Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Plenty of Family Time

These past few days have been much needed.  Tripp, Nathan, and I spent Thanksgiving at my parents home.  It has been so wonderful being surrounded by the people I love.  My mother had quite the spread and I am regretting not packing sweat pants lol!  I will try to post some of her recipes over on Watts' Cooking before we head back.

Tripp and I headed to Wal-Mart for my must have Christmas gift!  I have been wanting a Cricut machine for awhile now so when we saw that they would be on sale we headed over to stand in line.  Lucky for us we got one, now I just have to wait until Christmas to play with it! 

I hope that all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I also hope that those of you that braved Black Friday had a successful venture!


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Menu Monday

Here is our menu for this week.

Monday-steak and potatoes
Tuesday-quick and easy pork chops and rice
Wednesday-church
Thursday-chicken not sure what recipe yet
Friday-spaghetti

Not a very exciting menu for this week. Maybe next week we'll have some snazzy dishes at the Watts' household! :) If y'all have any suggestions let me know! :)

October Wrap Up

October was such a fun month for us. 

Nathan finished up his first season of flag football.

AND got his FIRST trophy!

Mom Mom and Pop Pop (my parents) came up to watch the last game!

We can't wait to do it again next year.

We also made our annual trip to the pumpkin patch!

We made our way through the corn maze.

Nathan finally found the "one". 

This year I made Nathan's costume with the help of Tripp's mom! 

We hope y'all had a great October too!

Menu Monday-not so much....

Let me start by saying I had full intentions on starting a new series of posts on here titles menu Monday (that would obviously be posted on Mondays).  Well this is my first update this week so needless to say Menu Monday didn't happen. 
But to try to get back on track I decided I would put up our menu for this week today...wacky Wednesday I guess.

Monday- Southern Living Creamy Pork Chops and Au Gratin potatoes
Tuesday-Wendy's (not a fan of this fact, because we are trying to cut back on eating out. Nathan had his last flag football game so we ended up doing fast and over priced food).
Wednesday-Dinner at church. 
Thursday-Nathan's football team is having a pizza party so it looks as if we are eating out again.
Friday-London Broil and mashed potatoes.  ( I have never had a London Broil until recently.  It is a fairly inexpensive cut of meat, but if it's cooked right it can be tasty!)
Saturday-Chicken roll up (Chicken, Cream Cheese, and chives) and wild rice

Well there you have it!  This week's menu isn't too exciting, but hopefully next week's will be. 

I am still trying to cut back on our grocery cost.  I am loving the coupon game (I'm a big nerd), but last trip to the store I saved $80+ on our bill. 
I will try to start posting tips on here too!

No Excuses

Nathan is gone to spend his Fall Break with my parents. Now I have no excuses now to get things around the house finished. I know y'all are green with envy. ;)



The boring list includes and is not limited to....

1. Tackle our own version of Mt. Everest (AKA the laundry pile).
2. Clean Nathan's room top to bottom.
3. Organize closets.
4. Finish painting the bedroom (yuck).
5. Paint the hallway
6. Organize the family room.
7. Clean the bathrooms (double yuck).
8. Organize kitchen cabinets.
9. Fix my sewing machine that I have had for three years and never used.
   
10. Vaccume the floors.
11. Mop the floors.
    

I'm supposed to be helping Tripp clean up the kitchen right now, but I told him I was indisposed. ;)
I better go I think he is in the vicinity of hearing the click clack of the keyboard....

Folks of Kentucky (Lexington and surronding areas)

I have been following Libby's (Don't Waste Your Cancer) story on here for quite sometime now. Now there is a way central Kentuckians can help her and her family!

{Libby Ryder Charity Golf Outing}

Date:

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Location:

Kearney Hills Golf Course 3403 Kearney Rd., Lexington, KY

Times:

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

Registration at Golf Course (same day registration, must come with a foursome)

8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Shotgun Start

1:30 p.m. - ???? p.m. Lunch & Raffles

{Kearney Hills Club House following golf}

Fees: $80 per player. Foursome Scramble Format.

*Proceeds go to Justin and Libby Ryder

Includes: Green fees, cart, lunch

{Sponsorship Opportunities:}

*Proceeds go to Justin and Libby Ryder

Hole Sponsor: $200

Libby's story has really touched me. I have been praying for her and her family daily. Even if you can't make it to this event I'm asking you to please keep her in your thoughts and prayers and read her story. She is an inspiration.

What's been going on

Poor Nathan is sick with strep for the third time in a month. I had just gotten over it when he started feeling bad. He has stayed home from school for the past two days and I have loved spending some one on one time with him, though I wish he felt better. We have watched t.v., worked on letters, played with modeling clay, and read plenty of books. I'm praying that tomorrow morning he will feel well enough to go to school. (I know he probably wants to be around other five year olds rather than his mom.)

In other news, last night I made a delicious dinner last night and I thought I would share with y'all.
The recipe came out of my mom's Southern Living Cookbook for Two (circa 1982) that I "borrowed" from her.
Easy Pork Chops
2 (1-inch-thick) lean pork chops (I used boneless)
Commercial Italian salad dressing
Salt and Pepper
1/3 cup Italian-seasoned bred crumbs

Brush pork chops generously with salad dressing. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; coat with breadcrumbs. Place pork chops on a rack in a shallow pan. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes or until done. Yield: 2 servings

Mom made this recipe in August of 84 (I was a year old) and gave it a smiley face and a "very good". Twenty-six years later it's still great!

My Boy of Fall

This year marks Nathan's first time playing a sport. Because we are new to the community we thought it would be a perfect opportunity for him to make friends out side of the classroom (not to mention I get get to socialize with adults :)). Though we've only been with it for a few weeks, it has already proven to be an excellent decision! He has having so much fun, plus getting lots of exercise. It's been a wonderful starting point in getting involved in this new town.

Friday night they had Youth Football night at the high school game. Nathan got to run out on the field and participate in the tunnel when the players ran out. Needless to say he had a ball!

Nathan (#2) watching the big boys!
Nathan and the other Kindergartner on the team!

I can't wait to see what the rest of the season has in store for us. Nathan has already made it clear that he will be playing basketball this year too!

Last Thursday...

Last Thursday this guy had his first day of Kindergarten.
He was so excited to head to school. It is so hard for me to believe that he is old enough to be in Kindergarten. It seems like yesterday this face was looking up at me...
My oh my how time flies.

Date night

Little man is visiting my parents this weekend and helping my brother ("Unkie Wii-A") move into his dorm room, so Tripp and I decided to go out on the town.
Because our town has so little to choose from we decided on dinner and a movie. We ate Mexican and then went to see "Dinner for Schmucks". It was so nice to spend some quality time with Tripp and the movie was hilarious. Steve Carell did an amazing job and Paul Rudd supplied some nice eye candy (shh don't tell Tripp).
All in all it was a wonderful evening with my wonderful husband. Hope y'all had as good of a Friday night as I did!
Well it's past my bed time.
G'Night All.

Are you there God it's me Chelsea...

I know that God has a plan for me. I remind myself daily as I check the state website for teaching positions. But sometimes I wish that the HE would let me in on it. I thought this year would be much easier seeing how I now hold my state teaching certificate. But so far no luck.
I keep holding out hold that I will get a job by the end of the month, but today is the 28th so it's getting close to my deadline.
So when you say your prayers feel free to say one for me.

Happy Birthday Hubs!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND!
Tripp turned twenty-seven on Tuesday and we had a wonderful (stressful) evening. On the way home from Lexington Tripp was stuck in traffic for over two hours and I screwed up a cake (forgot to flour the pans). So needless to say it was a rather eventfully birthday for us all.
Everything ended up working out though. Tripp got home safe and I went and bought a cake from Kroger and we had a lovely dinner. :)

Nathan and I are so lucky to have Tripp in our lives and I thank God for him everyday!

Weekly Menu

At the suggestion of my momma I've decided to cut back on numerous trips to the grocery by planning a weekly menu. I started doing this two weeks ago and it has been so handy. So today I sat down trying to decide what I wanted to cook. I looked through all my cookbooks, but nothing really jumped out at me. So I decided to get on the lovely Pioneer Woman's site. I have looked at her site for part of my day, well more than part...don't judge. I have found several recipes that I can not wait to try with my family. Needless to say this next weeks menu has a theme...Pioneer Woman.

I highly doubt will look as good as hers, but I will give it a shot!
Simple, Perfect Enchiladas

Grilled Ribeye Steak with Onion Bleu Cheese sauce


Caramelized Onion & Prosciutto Pizza

Pioneer Woman's Favorite Burger Ever

I need one more recipe for the week which means we will probably end up grilling hot dogs. I only create a menu for five days that way we can use the leftovers.

I'll be sure to let you know how these recipes turn out! I'm excited to try them seeing how tasty they look!

The Honeymooners Part 1

I have yet to upload all our pictures from our honeymoon, but in my defense I have been busy...kinda. Here are some pictures that we had taken of us at Walt Disney World's Grand Floridian Resort.

We had so much fun doing this and our photographer was a great! I would recomend this Disney service to anyone. Tripp and I have already decided that we will be doing this every Disney trip! I can't wait till we take Nathan back and have his pictures done.

Here is the link for anyone out there wanting to check it out. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/digital-photos.htm#resort

We went to the chapel and got married! ;)

Well June 5th passed us by in a blink of an eye. I can't remember much about that day (people say this is normal). It was a whirlwind of emotions. My mother did a wonderful job as my wedding planner, everything was beautiful.

So far these pictures are the only one's we have, but they are great!

Some girls cry when saying there vows, but me I giggled...uncontrollably.

Wedding party!

This one is my favorite thus far!

Upon leaving the church we headed out for our honeymoon in...DISNEYWORLD! (Yes we are twenty-six and twenty-seven years old) ;) As soon as I can find my camera cord I will post the pics!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

I think I saw two elephants, two bears, and two antelopes headed towards a big boat being captained by a guy named Noah....



Due to us being flooded in I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to update the blog. The wedding is slowly creeping up on us and we have already had one shower (held in my fiance's hometown) where we received many lovely gifts. Unfortunatly no one brought their camera. :(
This weekend is my hometown shower and I can not wait! Not only am I excited to be going home, but to see so many of my favorite people!
I had some trouble deciding what to wear to the shower so I picked up both of these. Still not sure which one to wear...

Still trying to decide on a rehearsal dress, I think I' m going to go with the classic Lilly Fiesta dress!

Wedding update

So things are starting to fall into place with the wedding. All our venues are booked and mom and I are on a mission to find all the blue ball quart jars we can find! I even have gifts in mind for the wedding party! Oh and invitations have been ordered!
Hopefully this will be the end to all of the snow, because I really want a break between school and wedding. :)

We have a new addition...cupcakes!Nate and the new kitty have really hit it off (thank goodness)!

Until next time!

Snow Day!

I have been off work since Monday due to the snow, got to love teaching! Though I am beginning to worry that all of these snow days will end up interfering with our wedding date. Speaking of weddings I really should be using all of this free time to work on the wedding, I guess I'm a slacker. But it is so cold outside the thought of going outdoors gives me goosebumps!

So what better way to warm up than to make some yummy soup for Tripp and I?

Ingredients

• 12 slices bacon
• 2/3 cup margarine
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 7 cups milk
• 4 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
2. In a stock pot or Dutch oven, melt the margarine over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk, whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
3. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Mix in bacon, cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted.
4. Enjoy!!

I really hope it turns out as yummy as it looks! I'll be sure to let y'all know if you should try it or not!

Well now off to cook and wait for the fiance'!

Welcome!

We decided we would create a blog to help keep our families up to date on our lives! Tripp and I got engaged on January 10th, 2010 and couldn't be more excited to spend the rest of our lives together. We have set the date for June 5, 2010.
There is a lot of planning to do, but I think we can manage! ;) I've said yes to a dress (that's a big start, right?!?) and we have a location picked out so I think we are well on our way for our low key southern wedding! :)