Menu

#1 beer can chicken
#2 lettuce wraps 
#3 penne with meatballs & salad
#4 salsa verde enchiladas 

Merry Christmas

Christmas 2015! No snow.....mid 60 degree temps.....in CNY! The one time I actually want to see all the white stuff it's nowhere to be found! We managed to get into the season anyway though.......

 

Baking Christmas cookies with friends that are like family!

 

 We had all our family join us for Christmas Eve candlelight service at our church

 

then spent the evening at Aunt Connie's celebrating.......

at home and in our annual Christmas Eve jammies from Aunt Connie

{{ its impossible to get a serious photo of these 2 maniacs lately so we just go with it!!}}

We are usually doing all the wrapping & assembling late Christmas Eve once the kids go to bed but this year we were actually ahead of the game & everything was done a few days before! Amazing first time for us......BUT then since Savannah was over tired & couldn't sleep we were up till 1am anyway......can't sneak everything outta the guest room & past her door while she's watching........then up at 6am ready to see the magic of what Santa brought! I love having Christmas Day to ourselves at home with no schedule or agenda! It's very rare were all home with nothing to do but enjoy the day so I always look forward to that! It was a nice lazy day wth movies & playing Barbies & eating sweets!

 

The 1am quick picture of the loaded up tree before we passed out......

A Barbie house for Emerson and a MacBook for Savannah were the Santa awesomeness this year!

Fun treats from their stockings......

A very nice Christmas indeed.........

Menu

#1 Baked ravioli and salad
#2 paninis and soup
#3 brinner - pancakes eggs and bacon

Christmas Eve ~
crockpot hot chocolate
 crockpot spiked cider
cocktail meatballs
crockpot chex mix

Christmas Day ~
Cinnamon roll French toast casserole
glazed spiral ham
holiday honeycrisp salad
homemade twix bars

menu

#1 spaghetti and meatballs & sauce  w/ bread and salad
#2 chicken and rice
#3 chicken tacos rice and salsa
#4 stuffed shells

Menu

#1 crockpot baked potato soup  w/ crusty bread
#2 chicken lomein 
#3 creamy garlic penne pasta w/ garlic knots & salad
#4 steak bites & baked potatoes

Chocolate coconut granola
Chocolate croissants 

Menu

#1 holiday honey crisp salad w/ grilled chicken
#2 crockpot chicken Parmesan
#3 penne w/ Italian sausage & sauce

Thanksgiving!

Seventy one family members celebrated at the annual Ramsden Family Thanksgiving at the Amber firebarn this year!! It was a bittersweet one since this is the first year we are missing Grandpa & Aunt Tricia. Always a fun time seeing everyone since it's rare to all get together!  Love that my girls are part of this tradition & look forward to it every year!

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Menu

#1 baked Parmesan chicken bites 
#2 pulled pork 
#3 taco soup 
#4 pizza dippers

Menu

#1  lasagna roll ups
#2 chicken Caesar salad w/ garlic bread
#3 salsa verde chicken enchiladas
#4  beef tips and mashed potatoes

mini pumpkin cinnamon rolls
apple dumplings

Menu

#1 slow cooker beef roast w/ rolls
#2 one pot creamy tomato chicken pasta
#3 beef & tomato macaroni soup w/ garlic knots
#4  hamburgers w/ slow cooker garlic parmesan potatoes

slow cooker granola
banana & chocolate overnight oats

Halloween 2015

Happy Halloween!

We did our annual hosting dinner and trick-or-treating for our friends who don't live inside the village..was a fun night with great friends and lots of kids!!!

Menu

#1 baked ravioli  w/ fresh bread
#2 chicken tacos w/ Spanish rice
#3 grilled chicken sandwiches w/ fries

Almond butter brownies
Slow cooker granola

Menu!

Skimpy menu this week........we're headed to AZ!

#1 creamy portobello mushroom chicken 
#2  crockpot chicken noodle soup
#3 {{brinner}} waffles sausage & fruit

Menu

#1 Two timin pasta bake 
#2 bbq pot roast
#3 crockpot chili w/ corn muffins
#4 creamy pasta primavera {{PC freezer meal}}

~Happy 11th Birthday Savannah~

11 years old.......Eleven!! You're 11 & in 6th grade somehow.......I still remember you like this......

Hope you have an awesome birthday and achieve all you go for this year! I love your caring compassionate heart & your huge love of animals! We love watching you grow up & turn into such a wonderful young lady! 

We'll celebrate tonight with some of

your friends going to the movies & a sleepover....and of course amazing cake from Miss Nicki! 

This year it's a tiger! 

Menu

#1 spinach lasagna rollups
#2 broccoli cheddar soup in breadbowls
#3 mac and cheese w/ hotdogs
#4 crockpot chicken tacos  w/ spanish rice 

Menu

#1 taco soup
#2 slow cooker chicken & gravy  w/ fresh bread
#3 baked ziti with sausage  w/ breadsticks
#4 chicken fajita pasta  w/ chips and salsa

pumpkin donuts
apple pie dumplings

Grandpa Ramsden

Today we lost a great man....a dad, a grandpa, a great grandpa.

He will certainly be missed and we are thankful for the memories we have to hold onto. I'm imagining him with grandma by his side again which is what he's longed for since she passed away almost 3 years ago. 

We love you grandpa!

Menu

#1 meatloaf w/ biscuits & baked potatoes
#2 Caesar salad w/ garlic knots
#3 chicken & rice  w/ salad
#4 pretzel pizza

PB chocolate chip granola 
Chocolate chip overnight oats 

Menu

#1 pepperoni lasagna rolls 
#2 crockpot ravioli w/ bread
#3 Apple cheddar turkey paninis w/ fries
#4 popcorn chicken/boneless buffalo wings

Back to school 2015!

Savannah headed to 6th grade with Mrs. Henneberry and  Emerson headed into 2nd grade with Mrs. Gifford! Cheers to a fresh new school year for these two! 

And here is the annual giant cookie to greet them when they get home from their first day! One of their most favorite traditions!! 

Menu

#1 salsa verde chicken pasta 
#2 bacon egg & cheese sandwiches w/ fresh fruit
#3 chimichurri steak salad {{PC workshop freezer meal}} w/ fresh bread
#4 grilled chicken w/ strawberry peach salad

Beer cheese dip 

Menu

#1 pulled pork sandwiches  w/ coleslaw
#2 DIY pizzas
#3 Olive Garden salad w/ breadsticks
#4 chicken penne bake

Menu!

#1 Dorito taco salad
#2 grilled Cajun ranch chicken & pasta
#3 BLTs w/ fries
#4 pork chops w/ cous cous & sweetcorn

Zucchini muffins

Where does the time go?!?

7!!! Seven!!  My baby girl turns 7 years old today!  She's headed to 2nd grade in a few weeks and is growing up faster than I can stand....she is a super silly, always laughing & making us laugh, full of life and caring beyond belief. 

My birthday wish for you Emerson is that you never lose your sense of imagination and contagious smile.  You are so sweet and filled with compassion...its such a treat to me your mommy!  Love you baby girl! Cant wait to see what this next year brings for you!

Menu!

Some serious slacking last couple weeks=lots of carry over meals this week!

#1 chicken philly sandwiches w/ fries
#2 Caesar salad & paninis
#3 bacon & Gouda breakfast sandwiches 

Menu!

#1 lettuce wraps  w/ egg rolls
#2 pasta w/ sauce w/ garlic knots
#3 chicken fajitas
#4 chicken paprikash {PC workshop freezer meal}

Menu

#1 chicken strips w/ fruit
#2 verde chicken enchiladas w/ rice
#3 homemade hamburger helper w/ fresh bread
#4 stuffed zucchini w/ salad

Menu

#1 diy pizzas on the grill
#2 Parmesan tortellini bites w/ fresh bread
#3 grilled margherita sandwiches w/ fresh fruit
#4 chicken Caesar salad w/ breadsticks

Puppy chow

Laundry room facelift!

Cheap and quick facelift for the ONE and only room we literally never touched since buying and gutting this house top to bottom! We planned on ripping this room right off the house and expanding but things change...didn't want to spend a lot but it was in major need of help! 

Didn't remember to grab true before pictures but here's some during shots; 

Here's a big improvement, amazing what some Sheetrock repair and paint can do!

 

And the grande finale! 

Menu

#1 kielbasa & cabbage skillet 
#2 chicken kebabs
#3 cheeseburgers w/ broccoli cauliflower salad
#4 grilled chicken sandwiches

Icecream bites

Menu

#1 mac & cheese  w/ grilled chicken sausage
#2 chicken strips  w/ fresh fruit and salad
#3 Chicken Caesar wraps
#4 slow cooker salsa verde chicken tacos w/ rice
#5 chimichurri steak salad {PC freezer meal}

Menu

#1 lobster rolls w/ fries and coleslaw
#2 fish tacos w/ mango salsa
#3 frito pie w/ cornbread muffins
#4  cheesy sausage rigatoni w/ fresh bread
#5  lemon chicken scallopine {PC workshop freezer meal}

banana bread smoothie
overnight PB banana oatmeal

Menu

#1 pork fried rice {PC freezer meal} w/ egg rolls
#2 pancake squares w/ bacon & fresh fruit
#3 grilled chicken salad w/ baguette
#4 chicken Parmesan w/ pasta

Granola 

Menu

#1 penne w/ sausage & peppers
#2 California club grilled cheese 
#3 calzones w/ salad
#4 stuffed shells 

Strawberry pie 
Brownies 

Menu

#1 strawberry spinach salad
#2 make your own pizza
#3 chipotle burgers {freezer meal from PC workshop} w/ salad
#4 grilled chicken w/ Parmesan garlic pasta

Dark chocolate chunk oatmeal cookies  {Anne Burrell recipe who is my friends sister & Taylor Swifts fave so it's a MUST try}

Menu

#1 Paninis with cucumber salad
#2 tacos with Spanish rice
#3 burgers with macaroni salad
#4  Penne with chicken sausage and peppers {{PC Freezer meal from workshop}}

homemade chocolate peanut butter (tired of rarely finding it in stock at our amish store)

Menu

#1 linguine with shrimp w/ garlic knots
#2 taco salad w dressing
#3 crockpot honey teriyaki chicken with jasmine rice
#4  hot dog on a stick w/ salad & ranch

Menu

#1 slow cooker taquitos 
#2 pork chops 
#3 basil & pecan chicken salad sandwiches
#4 Philly cheesesteak peppers

Iced coffee

Graduation Day!

These 2 beautiful girls are two of my 5 nieces, both graduating on the same day but from different schools. We had to divide the family so we made sure to cover it all. Still so hard thinking of the one that you were missing but happy to be there for the one you were! So proud of these girls and their big high school finale and can't wait to see what the future brings them!

 

Congratulations Makayla & Madison!

Menu

mothers day brunch ~
French toast bake
Chocolate chip muffins
Green chili & egg bake 
Yogurt & granola

1. Make your own pizza
2. Salsa verde chicken enchiladas w/ rice
3. Olive Garden salad w/ breadsticks
4. BLT lettuce wraps w/ cottage cheese

Menu

#1 grilled beer can chicken w/ pizza pasta salad
#2 BLTA croissant {copycat red robin} W/ fries & cottage cheese

#3 crockpot bbq pulled pork w/ coleslaw & sweet corn
#4 crockpot tacos w/ rice


Rice crispie treats
Tomato cucumber salad 
Brownies 
No bake cookies

menu

#1 cilantro lime shrimp  w/ rice
#2 meatball Parmesan w/ pasta & bread
#3 crockpot green chili chicken enchiladas soup
#4 popcorn chicken w/ carrots celery & ranch

Salted caramel popcorn
Overnight granola

Menu

#1 BLT wraps w/ French fries
#2 baked ravioli w/ salad & breadsticks
#3 chicken quesadillas  w/ chips & salsa
#4 chicken Caesar salad {dressing}

Strawberry salsa w/ cinnamon chips
Brownies

Menu

#1 creamy chicken and rice
#2  chicken lettuce wraps w/ eggrolls
#3  make your own pizzas w/ salad
#4  7-up grilled chicken w/ macaroni salad
#5  stuffed chili peppers (with this chili)

pb cookie lara bars
cinnamon English muffin bread

Menu!

#1 meatloaf w/ biscuits 
#2 grilled chicken w/ macaroni salad
#3 popcorn chicken w/ carrots celery & ranch
#4 broccoli & cheese soup  in bread bowls

Chocolate chip graham cookies
Chocolate coconut granola

Happy 13th anniversary!

13 years ago today I married Mr. Fab Four! 

We escaped to a nearby inn for the night this weekend and enjoyed some time as a couple instead of as mom & dad! Not quite as amazing as our week long honeymoon in Jamaica but it was a wonderful break from daily life! 

It's been a great 13 years so far and looking forward to new adventures in the years ahead! 

Menu

#1 pollo loco chicken  w/ cilantro lime rice 
#2 pulled pork w/ coleslaw
#3 egg muffins w/ fresh fruit & bacon
#4 baked ziti  w/ fresh bread & salad

Fat bombs
Granola bites 

Menu

#1 chicken fajitas w/ tossed salad
#2 chicken tacos w/ rice
#3 pot roast w/ potatoes & carrots & rolls
#4 strawberry spinach salad w/ chicken
#5 make your own pizzas


boston cream donuts
PB granola balls
banana cream pie smoothie

Menu

#1 steak bites w/ baked potatoes
#2 chicken and broccoli w/ steamed rice
#3 Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas w/ Spanish rice chips salsa & queso
#4 shells & cheese w/ hotdogs
#5  bang bang shrimp & pasta
#5 BLTs  w/ French fries


PB bliss balls
pretzel bites

Menu

#1 Parmesan pork chops w/ cous cous & green beans
#2 puffy chicken tacos w/ Spanish rice
#3 4 cheese chicken pasta bake w/ fresh bread
#4 spagetti w/ meatballs & sauce
#5 crockpot stuffed peppers 

Banana cream pie smoothie
PB honey chewy granola bars

Menu!

#1 basil pecan chicken salad sandwiches w/ fresh fruit
#2 chicken parmesan over spaghetti w/ fresh bread
#3 tortilla soup {sub chicken & chicken broth}
#4 sliders w/ sweet corn and French fries

donuts
PB Banana blender muffins

Homemade Valentines

Always a favorite holiday...just in love with all the ideas online for homemade valentines & bonus there are so many options that are QUICK & EASY, yet still give a more personal touch than the store bought cards!

Emerson picked these while cruising my pinterest boards...I figured 1st graders wouldn't be too thrilled with bath bombs as in the original bloggers post {here} so we made them using tootsie pops instead

Savannah chose this cute candy-free option for her 5th grade friends! Original bloggers post with FREE printable {here}

Quick......Easy....Cheap....yet still homemade touch!

MOM WIN!

Menu

#1 crunch wrap supremes
#2 Philly cheesesteak stuffed peppers
#3 chicken Caesar salad {dressing}
#4 goulash w/ garlic cheese biscuits
#5 BLT lettuce wraps

Monster protein balls

Daddy Daughter Valentines Dance!

Hands down one of my girls most favorite traditions, the daddy daughter dance every year for Valentines Day!  I just love this special night out with their dad and the memories they are making!

Menu

#1 mandarin orange spinach salad w/ chicken & lemon honey ginger dressing 
#2 no peek beef tips over mashed potatoes
#3 fried shrimp w/ French fries
#4 chili rellenos casserole / chips & triple cheese salsa dip
#5 popcorn chicken w/ carrots celery & ranch


Pretzel bites
Chocolate chip cookie bars 
Cinnamon chocolate chip protein bars 

Over the hill!!!!

Mr. Fab Four turns 40 today! Holy crap when did we get so old?! I remember when thinking 40 seemed so so old and couldn't imagine ever being that ancient and well now I'm married to an old man and not far behind myself 😉

I had a little surprise dinner for the old man over the weekend with some of our closest friends! Was great to have everyone together, tried out a local BBQ place that turned out to be phenomenal! 

Here's to hoping for at least another 40 years outta this guy since I've gotten pretty used to having him around to grow old with! Obviously he'll beat me to the old part 😉

Celebrating with the family tonight and enjoying a giant little debbie oatmeal creme pie for his special birthday dessert!!! It's the size of a dinner plate people!!! 

Menu!

#1 pollo fundido w/ rice
#2  bbq pot roast  w/ no knead bread
#3 meatball sandwiches w/ salad
#4 one pot garlic Parmesan pasta  w/ cheesy garlic breadsticks

Banana bread
Chocolate chip scones 
Chocolate banana smoothie 
Chocolate chip cookies 

Menu!

#1 hibachi noodles w/ egg rolls
#2 that's amore soup  w/ fresh bread
#3 chicken pot pie w/ perogies
#4 ciabatta breakfast sandwiches w/ fresh fruit
#5 lettuce wraps

Oatmeal breakfast bars
thin mint smoothie 

Menu

#1 white chicken  green chili enchiladas  w/ rice
#2 chili w/ corn muffins
#3 chicken tenders w/ carrots celery & ranch
#4 creamy skillet pasta w/ salad


Ranch 
PB bites

Menu

#1 slow cooker tomato & tortellini soup
#2 Olive Garden salad  w/ breadsticks
#3 chicken tacos w/ Spanish rice
#4 beer can chicken w/ coleslaw

PB granola
OJ smoothie