Let's Dish!

Before Caleb was born, I attempted weekly to plan out our meals on the calendar so we didn't keep eating the same old thing. Now that he's here, even my best laid plans often don't turn out the way I expect. Needless to say, I'm now looking for 15 minute meal ideas that are healthy, inexpensive, and different.

A year or two ago, my friend from church, Erin Dunkle, told me about a place called Let's Dish where you could build quick and easy meals. We talked about trying to go and build some meals to freeze before Caleb arrived, but never got around to it. This week we decided to give it a try.

1. First, you have to set up an account and decide what meals you'd like to make. (You can do this step at home to make the process go more quickly. Here is the link to get started: http://www.letsdish.com/registration/dishmethod.aspx?sessiontype=1)


2. After selecting your menu choices, you grab an apron and bandanna. Then, you find the work station with the recipe and ingredients you need to begin building your meals.



(Erin and I actually decided to split the meals since each one includes about six servings.)

3. After building each meal, you take the package to a table where you label it with the cooking instructions, your name, and the date.


4. Then, the meal is stored in the refrigerator or freezer while you make the rest of your food.



5. Once we made all of our meals, they checked us out as Erin loaded up the cooler.



We made Baja Steak Fajitas, Beachfront Shrimp Al Fresco, Chicken Casablanca in Grilled Pitas, Fiesta Chicken with Warm Corn Salad, Pink Ribbon Stir Fry, Pork Chops with Three Cheese Potatoes, and a double helping of the Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken with Herb Cheese and Egg Noodles. Because I am a new mother, they also gave me another half meal free; I chose a marinated flank steak. Additionally, they gave me free scones for putting info about them on my Facebook status.

Overall, it was a good experience. The two meals Dave and I already ate were tasty, different, easy, and quick. The only thing I really didn't like was the lack of kid-friendliness. They wouldn't let Caleb come back in the work stations with us; he had to stay in his stroller near the front of the store. While I could see him from anywhere I was, he was too close to the door for me to feel comfortable and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to hear him cry if he woke up over the music. I kept having to run over every few minutes to check. We were there for about three hours which made it really difficult even though he was such a good boy and slept the whole time. If I ever go again (and I plan to), Caleb will have to have a babysitter.

Graduation

While I was pregnant with Caleb, I finished up my Masters degree as a reading specialist. Just two weeks before he as born, I completed the required comprehensive exam. I was so thankful he didn't come any earlier!

Yesterday was our graduation at McDaniel College. Here is a picture of my friend Sarah and me; we did our summer clinic together (along with Patti who we couldn't find for the picture). Sarah is also expecting a baby soon.

Caleb, Dave, my parents, and some of my grandparents came to support me.

Going to Church

Luckily, we've been able to make it to church every Sunday since Caleb was born.

Here is Daddy carrying Caleb in to church for the first time. He is six days old. (4/11)

Caleb is a very good baby which has made it easier for us to take him to church. Almost every Sunday, he sleeps through a good portion of both the service and Sunday school. On his third Sunday in church, Caleb was dedicated; however, this boy has no idea what happened because he slept through the whole thing.

Grandma and Grandpa McKinstry came from IL and Grandma Sharon, Great-Grandma Nora Ann, and Great-Granddaddy Eddie came from VA to the service at South Columbia Baptist Church to watch Caleb's dedication. (4/25)

Every Sunday there have been some obstacles to overcome in order to make it to church though. The first Sunday, Caleb didn't want to eat when he was supposed to, which made us twenty minutes late for the second service. The second Sunday, Dave and I thought each other had grabbed the diaper bag; we didn't realize until we arrived at church that we didn't have it. Again, we missed the first service since we had to run to the grocery store for diapers and wipes. To make matters worse, Caleb ended up getting his outfit wet when I was changing him after church and the extra outfit was in the diaper bag! God had his hand on us though because one of my friends gave us a "Finding Nemo" outfit that same morning. Despite that is was a summer outfit and it was only in the 60s outside, it was dry! We wrapped him in a blanket and headed for home. Live and learn! Three of the of the other four Sundays we've also had to replace clothing due to leaky diapers and other mishaps, but fortunately we've remembered the diaper bag and a change of clothes. (Today though I should have brought a change of clothes for myself since my skirt suffered a little too.)

The diaper bag we hope to never forget again!

The "Finding Nemo" outfit that saved us (plus a cute boy modeling it)!

God, thank you for the grace to make it to Your house to worship each Sunday. We appreciate the patience you're teaching us and the laughter that comes from some of the mishaps Satan tries to use to discourage us. Thank you for the opportunity to dedicate our baby boy with our biological and church families behind us, committing to help raise Caleb to know You and Your great love for us. You are more than worthy of our praise for these gifts and so much more. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Getting Started

Welcome to our blog! My sister-in-law Amy started a blog a few years ago that has allowed us to get to know our niece and nephew better even though they live half way across the country. While I'm not the most skilled computer user, I thought I'd like to create my own blog now that Caleb is here so that we can share a little bit about him as he grows for those who aren't with us everyday. (Hopefully, my technology skills will also improve.:)) Another reason for blogging is that I love scrapbooking but haven't found much time to focus on building Caleb's book yet. I hope updating the blog will help me keep up with my picture taking and journaling until I have time to record all of the memories in paper format.

For now, here are some pictures of our sweet baby from the hospital.

Granddaddy Eddie and Grandma Nora Ann

Grandma Sharon

Caleb and Daddy

Caleb and Mommy

We had other visitors at the hospital too, including Granddaddy Jeff, Granny, Aunt Courtney, and Beth Judd. Caleb's other grandparents, Wayne and Shirley, came to visit a couple weeks later because they live in Illinois. I'll have to try to dig up some pictures from their visit to share soon.