What a Funny Weekend!

Luci was definitely being her two year old self this weekend!

First of all, we had a great weekend! Friday night we just stayed at home, Saturday we went to a work party of mine (lots of fun) and did a little furniture shopping. Sunday we went to church, went back to the furniture store and purchased a new dining set and chest of drawers for Luci!

So what was so funny about this weekend you ask??

3 things...

1. While furniture shopping, Luci decided she would frequently run away from us and hide...this is how we found her once...

And no we are not "those" parents that let their kid run wild in a store...but sometimes she is too quick for us!

2. Let me set the scene... church is silent...heads are bowed and pastor is getting ready to pray. Then a tiny little voice can be heard..."Momma, I poo poo." Who did that tiny little voice belong to...??

3. Luci decided to see what would happen if she flushed a hand towel...

Oh, and don't worry Mitch wasn't near as mad as he looks...although I wasn't too happy about the toilet water all over the bathroom rugs... Oh and I am not sure about the church dress pajama pant combo...


There you have it! A weekend with the Minnick's!!! Don't you wish you could be a part of the fun?!?!?! :-)


Here are some other pics of our outside playtime this weekend and before church...

Because One Day

Because one day, she will not want to anymore...

 Because one day she will be all grown up...

 Because one day, she will want to be with her friends more than us...

Because one day, she will move out and be on her own...

Because one day, she will not be little anymore...

So for now, she can be little...and sleep in the middle.

And we can all be happy!

*Disclaimer: Luci does not sleep all night every night in bed with us...because then all of us Mitch and I would go crazy!

:-)

Easy Weeknight Dinner

Mitch and I both think this dish is pretty tasty! It reminds me of lasagna, but the sour cream gives it more of a tangier taste than lasagna. It is really easy...and really good!!

Pioneer Woman's Sour Cream Noodle Bake
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/03/sour-cream-noodle-bake/

Ingredients

1-1/4 pound Ground Chuck

1 can 15-ounces Tomato Sauce

1/2 teaspoon Salt

Freshly Ground Black Pepper

8 ounces, weight Egg Noodles

1/2 cup Sour Cream

1-1/4 cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese

1/2 cup Sliced Green Onions (less To Taste)

1 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown ground chuck in a large skillet. Drain fat, then add tomato sauce. 1/2 teaspoon salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Stir, then simmer while you prepare the other ingredients.

Cook egg noodles until al dente. Drain and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese. Add plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Add to noodles and stir. Add green onions and stir.

To assemble, add half of the noodles to a baking dish. Top with half the meat mixture, then sprinkle on half the grated cheddar. Repeat with noodles, meat, then a final layer of cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until all cheese is melted.

I just love Pioneer Woman!!!

Random Pics from this Week

So, Luci fell through the chair...luckily it just snaps back in place...and yes, we did rescue her...after we took the pic of course! Lol!

Luci helping me "work"!!!

Just a little playtime!

 She loves to help Daddy mow!

My sis took her to the fair to see the livestock with Brendon's class!!

Back to School- Luci and Mitch!

Luci and Mitch both headed back to school this week! Luci was at "summer camp" all summer (still at the same place), so this week started her more structured type of learning. She is actually in a pre-k type of class! I think it is so cute!!!

Before her Open House

Before Open House....ugh, I wish she had her eyes open!!! *My shirt is a gift from my mother in law...it says "The bigger the bow, the better the Mom"!!!...she knows me all too well!!!

In her classroom

First Day of School...just as Mitch was snapping the pic, she saw a big truck go by and decided to point it out! lol!

2nd Day of School!

Mitch will officially start back to school tomorrow. He is starting back up on his Master's degree. He will be working towards a Master of Science in Community and Economic Development. This degree is very applicable towards his current job and so he is super pumped about it! I am so happy that he is in a career that makes him happy and want to go to work everyday! Unfortunately he is not in the "posing for the first day back to school picture" mood...so here is a pic the two "Back to Schoolers"!!!

Santa Fe Egg Bake Recipe

I made this recipe this weekend...and although rather tasty as is...I have a few notes at the bottom of the recipe that I am going to do different next time!

Ingredients:
4 cups of frozen, southern-style hash brown potatoes
1 can (15oz) of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup of frozen corn
1 cup of frozen stir-fry bell peppers and onions
2 cups of shredded colby-monterey jack cheese
2 tablespoons of cilantro
8 eggs
1 1/4 cup of milk
1/4 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper

Directions:
1.Spray 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray (spray liberally). Mix potatoes, beans, corn, onions & peppers in baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese and cilantro.

2.Beat eggs, milk, salt, and cayenne pepper until well blended. Pour evenly over potato mixture. Cover. Refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 24. (I refrigerated 5-6 hours).

3.Heat oven to 350. Uncover. Bake 45-55 minutes or until knife insterted in center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

We ate our egg bake with a little salsa on the side...yummy!!!!

Things I will do different next time:
Mitch requested some sort of meat in the dish, so next time I will add chunks of ham to the potato mixture or crumble lots of crispy bacon on top. I am not a sausage fan, but I'm sure that would be tasty in it as well.

We are big "salters" in my house, so I will salt the potato mixture pretty liberally in addition to the egg mixture.

We are also like spicy food quite a bit...so I may add a little more cayenne pepper.

And last... I think it needed more cheese!!

Weekend Recap!

Friday Night- We were so excited to host my cousin Jocie (Jocelyn) for the night! She came all the way from Texas to visit us!! Jocie and I have a special relationship! She was born when I was 6 and we kind of got to grow up together. She was the little sister I never had! Now she is grown and in college!

Jocie and I...circa 1992...yes, I look straight out of the early nineties in this pic!!! Lol!

Jocie and I last summer at the Ranger's Game in Arlington!

We spent the night vegging out...take-out and a movie!! Luci loved getting to play with her cousin... Fun, relaxing night!

Saturday- We ran a few errands and then I made lunch for Jocie before she left to head back home. We spent the rest of Saturday just laying around. Mitch is fighting off a cold and Luci has a cough and yucky nose.

Luci "cooking" me supper!

Sunday- We went to Luci's Open House at her school/day care. She is all ready to go!!! She was excited to take all of her supplies in! Her school officially begins tomorrow!!! After that, I had to go in to work for Freshman Convocation...not exactly how I wanted to spend my Sunday, but the program was pretty awesome! After Convocation, we went out to dinner with the Grounds!

Ready for Open House!

Sitting in her classroom!

Momma's baby girl is growing up!!! (I wish she hadn't closed her eyes!)

Daddy's Princess!

Not a terribly exciting weekend, but fun just the same!!!

Summer Recap 2011

The summer is coming to an end and schools are either back in session or beginning to start...The Minnick's have had a BUSY summer. Here is a look back at our adventures...

We celebrated Luci turning 2...

Luci "graduated" from the waddler classroom at daycare...

We went to Branson for Memorial Day Weekend, then...

We visited our Nation's Capitol...

where Mitch and I celebrated our 4th Wedding Anniversary!

We played in the pool outside...

and even took swimming lessons.

But we had to learn to find things to do inside...

because of the scorching hot temperatures.

We celebrated the 4th of July...

...and Luci helped celebrate her cousin's birthday and experienced the right of passage that every kid does...first trip to Chuckie Cheese!

Even Daddy had a birthday somewhere in there!

We went Branson again, but this time it was for a week!

We celebrated Luci's transition from baby to toddler a lot this summer...Luci got new big girl bedding...

...worked on potty training...

...and even got her first official hair cut!

Momma even had surgery twice somewhere in there!

After our long busy summer, we are tired...

and ready to put our feet up!!!

Goodbye Summer 2011...thanks for the ride!!!

We are ready to see what is in store for fall 2011!!!!

To look back at what Summer 2010 was all about, click here!