What I Ate {February 2017}

Here's what I ate for our dinners in the month of February.  Click on the links to be taken to the recipe.
1 - 7-Layer Dip
2 - Dole Asian Toasted Sesame Salad
3 - Free For All
4 - McCreary's Bangers & Mash
5 - Super Bowl Party Food
6 - King Ranch Chicken Casserole + Tortilla Chips

7 - Melty Burrito Bake + Baby Gem Chopped Salad {Hello Fresh}

8 - Mustard Breaded Chicken Thighs + Roasted Brussel Sprouts + Baked Sweet Potatoes {Hello Fresh}

9 - Nachos
10 - Red Robin Avo-Cobb-O Salad
11 - Papa Murphy's Pepperoni Pizza
12 - Fajitas & Spanish Rice
13 - Valentine's Breakfast

14 - Steak + Garlic Mashed Potatoes + Roasted Asparagus & Green Beans

15 - Chicken Divine + Dole Sunflower Crunch Chopped Salad
16 - Free For All
17 - Taquitos + Spanish Rice + Dole Southwestern Chopped Salad
18 - Tito's Enchilada + Rice & Beans + Chips & Salsa
19 - Katiepie's Country Kitchen
20 - Cali Burrito Chicken Taco
21 - ???
22 - Red Robin Burger + Garden Salad
23 - Grilled Chicken + Roasted Veggies + Basmati Rice
24 - ???
25 - Chips & Salsa + Trader Joe's Grilled Onion & Goat Cheese Pastries {seriously. ha!}
26 - Papa Murphy's Pepperoni Pizza
27 - J's Mac & Cheese
28 - 15 Bean Soup

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Week #8 {2017}

Sunday after church we went to Gigi's house.  We realized that Dylan is almost as tall as her now!

She took us to lunch at Katiepie's Country Kitchen.

My mom and I shared the Grilled Meatloaf Sandwich.  Ohmigoodness...only Southerners would think up this deliciousness!

The kids colored pilgrims,

And Katie, herself, helped them hang it on the wall.

Back at Gigi's.  Chris took a quick nap in my dad's chair.

While the kids decorated some choo choo trains.

Then then went to the backyard to play.  Rylan hammered,

while Payton tried to hang up a swing.

With a little help, she was able to swing and swing.

Isn't my mom beautiful?

Monday Barry Meguiar {who spoke at my dad's memorial} posted on Instagram what he had shared while speaking at a church service the day before. This comment just stuck with me.  I couldn't stop thinking about it.  How so many of my prayers are selfish, or only about making my family's life easier.  But that's not the goal is it?  The goal is that everyone should come to saving faith in Christ.  If that's the goal, than why don't my prayers line up? #convicting

Since it was President's Day and the kids were home from school, we had a lazy morning. I love capturing moments like this.

It was a bea-u-tiful day, so the kids played outside.

and tried to catch some rays.

Then we took a walk around the neighborhood {And yes, I fight with Dylan all the time about wearing a helmet....it was so much easier when he was 3 and HAD to do what I said!}.

Tuesday Rylan woke up and got dressed all on his own.  #cootiepatootie

Wednesday I had a tea party.

And after the party, Rylan worked on his math school work.

Thursday was a beautiful foggy morning with the sun peaking through while I was driving Dylan to Souled Out {a Christian Club at school}.

My crazy egg loving girl.

Friday I sat on a neighbor's patio and watched a storm roll in {while the kiddos played}.

That night I was going through some old photo albums.  This was my favorite find.  He was such an amazing dad.  I miss him so much.

Saturday we went to my mom's for a burn.

Burn

Today we did something that Dylan has been begging to do for years...  We went to Gigi's house to do a burn.

Us California's were a bit nervous since we grew up with Smokey the Bear ingraining us with "Only you can prevent forest fires!".

This was Chris' favorite part!

Having fun doing our first burn at Gigi's House. #slowmotion #missingpapanutt #gigishouse

A post shared by Rebecca Lewis (@lewisrebecca) on Feb 25, 2017 at 7:41pm PST

It was fun, even though I forgot to bring the stuff to make smores {next time!}.

And we all reeked of smoke.

This was a 12 year old's dream.  We used to talk with my dad about being able to burn stuff in his backyard.  I hope he knows that we finally did it and that we had a blast.  I wish he could have been here to watch the joy on the kids faces.

When we were done, I looked over to see Rylan watching tv like this.

Doesn't it look so comfortable? Ha!

Sabotaged {book review}

Just finished Sabotaged which is book #5 in the Alaskan Courage series by Dani Pettrey.  Again, it was a great clean read... kidnapping, sabotage, a love story...all rolled into one.  

I give this book 4 stars!

~

Here is the other books I have finished so far in 2017:

(3) Black Sands by Colleen Coble

(2) The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian

(1) Desperate by Sarah Mae & Sally Clarkson

~

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Tea Party

I threw a small tea party for a few of my mom's friends {I guess they are my friends too!}.  I tried to prepare as much as I could the night before, and my mom came over early to help put it all together.

I love pulling out all my teacups, teapots and china to use.

Everything feels so girly.

I made Egg Salad Sandwiches & Turkey Cranberry Croissants {these were a huge hit!},

Cucumber Sandwiches,

and Plain & Cranberry Scones + Devonshire Cream {not pictured} of course!

The lunch plates are my Great Aunt Lydia's china {read - super duper old!}.

And then everything else has been gifted or collected over the years.  See the adorable name plates?  My sister, Davese, had just given those to me.  They were a perfect addition.

This was the dessert plate. {Yes please!}

Ry loved having tea with us for a few minutes, then he ran off to play.

I had a last minute cancellation {and a ton of food}, so I texted Darby and invited her to come over.

Left to right:  my momma, Retha, Becky & Darby.  I forgot to take a picture of Shelley who had to work so she showed up a little later.

It was a great time of conversation and yummy {at least I think it was yummy} food!