Whats for Dinner?

On several occasions I have been asked to share my "menu" idea, where to begin, how I do it and what to put on it. I have been using a menu off and on for about 6-8 years now. Some times I am really good at it and sometimes I'm not. I have tried several different ways of doing it, but I have been using this particular one for quite some time now and I love it. I just made up a generic menu outline (mine is the one that I posted) for 2 weeks. I look at our weekly schedules and plan around them. If I know its going to be a hectic night and everyone is going to be coming and going then I plan something easy. If its a night that the entire family will be home we do something a little bigger. I try to plan things that I know everyone (for the most part...can't please everyone, EVER) will like. I often have the kids help come up with the ideas of what we are going to eat, that way they look forward to dinner and often help cook it. At times, I assign them a night that they are in charge of doing the cooking. They actually love that. They look forward to choosing the dinner idea and then cooking it all by themselves. Yes, I understand that my kids are older than some and can do that, but smaller kids could at least help with some of the simple cooking tasks such as cutting up vegetables or tearing lettuce, stirring etc... I love planning a menu because it ABSOLUTELY saves me time and money. Often I have things in the fridge that I forget about (left overs) but with the menu, I actually schedule them in so they get used. So it saves on the "throw outs" and I am not going to the store wondering what to cook for dinner and then spending alot more money than I had planned on. It saves me time because I can plan ahead and I know what we are having for dinner and I can schedule what I need to do for it, into my day. A couple of days ago I made up my menu's for 1 entire month. So I have dinners planned clear through March 8th. I am so excited. I know exactly what I need at the store and don't have to wonder whats for dinner ( I know I am weird and often get excited over stupid things...but oh well). A sample of  "What's for Dinner" is:

Monday-BBQ Chicken over rice and frozen veggies

Tuesday-Stacked Taco's 

Wednesday- New Recipe Night...Italian Chicken

Thursday- Kim Cooks

Friday- GONE

Saturday- Chicken Enchilada's and Salad 

Sunday- Roast, Potato's, rolls and frozen veggies

Monday- Spaghetti, Garlic bread and salad

Tuesday- Soup, bread sticks

Wednesday- Breakfast food

Thursday- Kim Cooks

Friday-Hot links, chips and BBQ Beans

Saturday-Fajitas or Homemade burritos, chips and salsa and relish plate

Sunday- Hamburger Strogonoff over mashed potatoes, Rolls and Veggies

I have learned that I have to be flexible and if something doesn't sound good one night, we switch it with another, or make something else that we have on hand. I just don't stress it. If I don't fix whats on the menu, I know that I will eventually fit it back in. Also, Sunday night is leftover night at our house. Everyone gets to eat whatever is in the fridge. We have a buffet and they can eat whatever they want, but it has to be a leftover. If we are getting too many leftovers during the week, one of the nights will be scratched and will become "leftover" night. That way things don't go to waiste and I free up some space in the fridge.

I am thrilled that I finally found something that really works for me because I love being organized and this defiantly helps in that area of my life. 

Good luck to those who venture out in "Making a Menu"

We're just always having a party around here...

Just to clear up the "Pink Cake" and Cameron being a boy- He wanted strawberry cake with strawberry frosting....and that flavor only comes in PINK. But Cameron loves to fish and is an amazing fisherman, (He can catch fish in lakes that fish don't exist.) so I 

decorated his cake with fish and a fishing pole, he liked it and thats all that counts. For Cameron's birthday breakfast he got homemade crepes with cream and strawberry jam (a favorite because- yet again, I don't make it very often) and for his dinner he wanted a stuffed potato bar, with all the fixin's. So we made a mess in the kitchen and used every dish in the house, and gave him his desired birthday dinner. It was yummy and made him happy (he's always happy anyway, but this was a special kind of happy, a "pleased that I got my favorite dinner", kind of happy.) We had Todd and Dana over and everyone ate until they were about to burst. Birthdays are fun around here.  I love to see my kids smile when they get to order whatever it is they want to eat and I get to make their day special for them. It's great being a mom. I think I have the best kids ever.

The next birthday isn't until March...so you won't get to read another tribute from me until then....

 

Another year gone by...

Yes, we are having another birthday in our house. On this day (February 7th) 15 years ago, Cameron Mikal Wilkerson was already trying to make his way into the world. But my Doctor was out of town until the 8th, so I suffered in silence at home, hoping that Cameron would wait just one more day, which he so thoughtfully did. On February 8th Cameron came bouncing into the world. He was excited for life and didn't want to miss a thing. He never has liked to sleep because (I think) he was always afraid that something good would happen and he would miss it. Cameron is a lot of fun and is such a great boy. I appreciate his wit and his zest for life. Cameron gives me lots of reasons to love him...a whole bunch, but I am only going to share 5 with the world-

I love Cameron more than anything in the world because-

1. He is so thoughtful. He can always tell if I am having a bad day. So he spends time talking to me and trying to cheer me up. He does really thoughtful things all the time, liking running errands or helping me with daily tasks. He's just a really good kid. 

2. He is 15 years old and isn't afraid to give his old mom a hug. He is so affectionate and sweet that way. Not too many 15 year old boys will hug their moms in school, at the store, at home or anywhere else. He makes me feel important in his life as well as loved. 

3. He is so appreciative of things that I do for him. He always tells me "Thanks Mom, for dinner (or breakfast or lunch), it was really good." He thanks me for taking him places and for cleaning up after him. He is so sincere and grateful, it makes me want to be a better mom. 

4. He is a very hard worker. Last summer Cameron worked 3 jobs during the summer. He gives a job everything he has and then some. He never complained and some days he even worked up to 15 hours or more. Not to say that he wasn't beat when he got home, but he continued to get up each day and do what he needed to do. 

5. He is a family guy. He still likes to hang out with the family. He loves spending time with all of his sibings. He and Kim spend alot of time togther and he loves spending time with his married sister and his married brother, talking, laughing and just sitting around with them. He loves feeling like they want to spend time with him too. He is such a great brother, as well as a wonderful son. I couldn't ask for a better son.

Cameron is my Sun Shine. He makes me happy and helps me to want to live better. He is so much fun to be with and I enjoy spending time with him on "mom dates" or chatting in the kitchen or helping him do whatever. He makes life fun, he makes life great. He is such a special person in my life and I am grateful every day that he was sent here to earth to be my son, my sun shine!

Happy, Happy Birthday Cameron!!!! I love you so much!!!

  

And to top it off....

For the kids birthday's I always let them pick what they want for breakfast and for their birthday dinner. Kim chose "German Pancakes" for breakfast (which we seldom have) and for dinner we had 

"Fetticcini Alfredo and Crab Wontons", which we only have on special occasions. The Alredo recipe I found on the internet and its called "Better than Olive Garden Alfedo Sauce". It is wonderful, althouth it comes with all of the nutritional facts and that is enough to sicken you on the spot. It is 1050 calories for a 1 cup serving (with the noodles) and it has 235% of your aloted daily amount of saturated fat....OH MY GOSH!!! Needless to say we just

 gave Kim clogged arteries for her birthday, no wonder we are such good parents right?! (ha-ha-ha)Kimber wanted her all time favorite cake for her birthday, its the boxed white cake with colored  chips in it, and the frosting to match. Then I added a little plastic shot needle, thermomter and stethescope (went all out on those cake decorations). And we all sang her a big happy birthday and sent her off to bed. She had a great day and a fantastic dinner. I added the recipe for all of you out there that don't get enough of your alloted daily fat intake. Let me know how you liked it, if you give it a try. It really is scrumptious....just not something you want to eat on a daily basis is all.

 

Better Than Olive Garden Alfedo Sauce

1/2 c. sweet butter

2 garlic cloves, minced (I just add one or its too garlicy)

2 cups heavy cream

1/4 t. white pepper (i just used regular pepper)

1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese

3/4 c. grated mozzarella cheese

1 (12 oz.) box fetticcini noodles

1. Melt butter in a medium pan over low heat

2. Add the garlic, cream, pepper and bring mixture to a simmer

3. Stir often (constantly or it burns)

4. Add the parmesan cheese and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until sauce thickens and is smooth

5. When sauce is thickened add the Mozzarella cheese and stir until smooth. Stir Frequently. 

6. While sauce is cooking, boil noodles for 3-5 minutes.

7. Place pasta on serving plates and spoon sauce over pasta, serve hot

ENJOY!!!

A long, long time ago...

I can't believe that its been 17 years ago that our bouncing baby girl, Kimberly Kay Wilkerson, came into our lives. She started out her life being a calm, content and happy baby. She is still that same calm, content and happy young lady. 

Some of the reasons that I love this special girl are:

1. She is such a

 peacemaker in our home. If she ever feels contention she try's to ease it by saying something to calm the situation or make those around her feel at ease

 and she just melts away the stress.

2. She is a family girl. Her best friend is her brother Cameron. She loves to be with her family (which is uncommon for a teenager) and loves just being home and hanging out with us.

3. She has a strong testimony of the gospel and lives it. She is a good example to me, to her family and to her peers. Kim lives what she believes and I love her for that. 

4. She makes me laugh. There isn't a day that goes by that this sweet girl makes me smile. She has the best sense of humor and spreads it all around.  

5. She is a leader. She doesn't go along with the crowd, she does just that, she leads.

She isn't afraid to say "No" I don't want to do that. And she is ok

with doing her own thing. 

....there are many reasons why I love her and why I am so happy that she is my daughter, but those are the only 5 that I am going 

to share. Kimberly, Kim and Kimber....(all the same) We love you, I love you and I am so proud of your good choices, your good example and your strength and courage. Thanks for being the wonderful, sweet and loving person that you are! 

Happy, Happy Birthday sweetheart!

It's done...ready or not here I come!

As you already know I have been writing a list of things that I want to do before I die. Well, I finished my "Bucket List" and have gone back and forth as to whether I really wanted to post it or not. Whether I wanted to put it out there for everyone to read or just quietly keep it to myself. I have thought long and hard as to what I REALLY want to do before I die. I read some bucket lists that other people had posted on the Internet and thought that so many of them sounded more like a "dream list", than something they really wanted or would ever accomplish in this life. Most of them based their lists on the possibility that they would somehow become independently wealthy and be able to "live in a castle" or " own a professional sports team", which is all fine, if you are just choosing to dream. But when it came right down to it, I wanted to actually accomplish the things I put on my list. I wanted to make them attainable and be able to set out and really do what I wrote down. Some of them are a little more "out there" than others, but when you consider that I have 45+ years left to accomplish all of them, I think they are all within reach. There is no specific order in which I will do them, just whatever happens, happens. Some are things that I can do on the spot, some I have to plan and prepare to do, and others will take years to accomplish, but I really and truly plan on doing them all (other wise, they wouldn't be on my list). Anyway, with that all said, I have decided that I will post them for you all to read and share with you, my journey.....

Before I die, I am going to.....

walk in a marathon, sale something that I made, go fishing with my dad, go on a trip with my mom, hike to the top of Timanogos and go through the cave, go snorkeling, travel to a foreign country, write a poem and have it published, be int he audience at the Oprah show, sleep under the stars with my kids on the trampoline (this is a real stretch for me because I hate sleeping outside), take a college class, win something, visit Niagara Falls, eat something weird that I haven't eaten before, do service for 21 days straight, fly in a hot air balloon, get passionate about a cause and spend time helping with it, ride on the roller coaster at the top of the casino in Las Vegas, take a day and spend it reading a novel and not feel guilty, laugh out loud in a movie theater, send a message in a bottle and toss it in the ocean, learn NOT to say yes when I really mean NO, swim under a waterfall, take 1 entire day and spend it eating junk food and not feel guilty about it (probably won't happen until my last day on earth), accept myself for who I am, take some kind of a dance class, ride in a helicopter, swim with dolphins, take a painting class, paint a picture, go white water rafting, go back east and see the Autumn leaves, spend a day a the spa and not feel guilty, attend a concert of my choice, learn 10 new words and use them fluently, plant an herb garden that will grow, learn photography and then take photo's, write a book, dance int he rain, make sure that I let all of my loved ones know that i love them so when I die I will be at peace, see the play "the Christmas Carol", sit in a hot tub in the middle of winter, travel on a train to somewhere, roll Easter eggs down a hill with my grandchildren, go sailing, go for a horse ride, be a better listener, have a dinner party at my house with friends, test drive an expensive sports car, collect spoons from all 50 states, see a bear in the wild, go on a trip with each one of my brothers, write a letter to someone/someones that made a difference to me in my life growing up, go see the "River Dancers", visit a castle, go to a drive in movie with Deron and take pictures, go on a zipline high above the trees, go whale watching, taste snake, taste frog legs, bathe in a river, spend a night in a 5 star hotel, take each one of my children (individually or with their own families) one-by-one, on a trip...take a day and relax and just watch DVD after DVD and feel no guilt, go on another cruise to anywhere, see a lighthouse in real life, drive a convertible with the top down and the music up, go on an over night trip with a close friend, buy a house int he country and fix it up then use it for a "get away house", take a road trip, walk down the Las Vegas Strip, buy a pair of jeans that "really" fit me (everywhere) without worrying about the price, feel confident enough to be in a swim suit to have a picture taken, get an autograph from someone famous, sketch a picture while sitting on a beach 

There you have it, 75 in all. Some of them I have done in my life time already but I want to do them again, so I added them (just in case those of you that know me well go thinking that, "hey, she already did that") to my list and plan on make a better memory of it this time. I feel guilty about taking time for myself so by putting a few things on my list that sound really lame with the, "and not feel guilty" behind it, its because I want to get past the "feeling guilty about giving myself some time" issue. When I am old and my children are sitting around and my grandchildren have climbed on my lap, I want to have fun, interesting stories to tell them about my life's experiences. At this point of my life, I want to take what I have left of my life- by the horns and ride the ride of my life. I am getting to a point where all of my children will be grown soon and I don't want to just sit back and watch TV or wither away and die, I want to continue to live my life to the fullest and enjoy it, so that's what I plan on doing. I find my bucket list motivational and it gives me a sense of purpose and a hope for my future. 

The wind beneath my wings...

I have to brag a little it bit on my dad. His birthday is coming up this week, on February 5th (Thursday) and he is going to be 69 years old. To me, he seems much younger, but Father Time tells us that he really and truly is 69 years old. To me, my dad is the greatest dad in the world!

I love my dad and think he is the best because:

1. He loves me right back. I've never had to question my dads love for me. 

2. My dad has always been a hard worker. Many times as a child/teen I only got to see my dad on the weekends because he was up and out of the house by 5:30am working one job, then working another until midnight. I never heard him complain or say how hard it was. He just did what he had to do to make ends meet and provide so lovingly for our family.

3. My dad is always there for me. I know that no matter what, he would drop what he was doing if I need something. He would give me the shirt off of his back if I needed it. He is always readly available to visit or talk to and doesn't make me feel as though its an inconvience. His door is always open and I

 know that. 

4. He makes me feel special. He has 6 children and makes each one of us feel as though we are always at the top of his list. He has never played favorites and continues to let us each know how special we are by the little/big things that he always says and does for each one of us. I've never question my place in his heart. 

5. He is an awesome grandpa. Dad takes a fishing trip each year with his sons and all the grandsons that can go, with him. They all go down to Lake Powell (or someplace else) and fish and visit and he spends time just hanging out with them. They laugh and have a great time (or so I am told, never been, its a guy thing) Its built lasting relations between him and the grandsons. My boys always talk about all the fun/special things they have done while tripping with grandpa.

 

6. Dad is a teacher. He has taught me so much through his example. He taught me to be a hard worker. He taught me to enjoy the moment I am in. He taught me to be thankful for what I have. He taught me to drive. He taught me to laugh at myself. He taught me to be happy. He taught me that its okay to cry. He taught me how import family is. He taught me to be caring and kind. Dad has taught me so much, and I am so grateful for the wise, but humble man that he is. 

7. My dad taught me the love that I have for the Book of Mormon. As a teen we use to read it every morning before school, which

 was at 5ish in the morning. I didn't understand alot of what I read in the Book of Mormon at the time, but by reading it together it gave me the itch that I needed later in my life, to read it on my own and gain a strong testimony of it. I also know that he has a testimony of the Book of Mormon. 

8. My dad always puts his family first. I have always known that! I watched when I was younger, as he would take care of his parents, his sisters, his grandparents and us. He always makes time for family. He always makes sure that his family knows that he loves and cares for them. I rememer countless times that he would drive out to the city, to visit his aillying parents or grandma. He never took thought as to what he had to do in his day, that might have been more important, because at that moment, family takes presidence over anything else. Dad is a family man. 

9. My dad is so much fun to be with. As a child I didn't get to spend alot of time with him (I've already mentioned why), but as an adult I have had many opportunities to spend one-on-one time, and I have loved every minute of it. Just to name a few---He and I went down to Las Vegas together to visit my aunt. With just the 2 of us in the truck, we had hours to talk, to listen and to laugh. Also, a couple of years ago, Deron and I went with him and my step-mom to Yellowstone National Park and had a great time just strolling and driving and talking and having a wonderful time being together. I realize that not everyone has the chance to spend time like this with their dads, and I recognize it as a great blessing in my life. 

10. My dad has a strong testimony of the gospel. He lives his life so that I know that he does. He chooses to live the gospel that he loves and therefore sets a good example for me and my children to follow. 

I could go on and on...but to sum it all up-My dad is my hero. I love you Dad, more than anything!!!! And I think you are the best dad in the entire world. Happy 69th Birthday!!!!