Week 2 Menu

By the time we get to Ainsley's bday on Friday night, we will have gone two full weeks without eating out. In the spirit of full-disclosure, I did get Audrey pancakes from McDonald's one morning because I went to the gym early and did not realize she had not eaten breakfast. She was ready to eat by the time we left the gym at 10, that's for sure!

We were grateful beyond measure that the beltway crowd figured out a budget so that we would continue to get a paycheck. However, we would have been fine with a kitchen full of food and a good habit of eating around our table. We fought the desire to celebrate by going out on Saturday night. There are some peoples' homes that when you visit, you can tell that everyone loves to be there. That is a lofty goal, but that is a home we would love to create. Enjoyable meals are key to that dream. So are regular cleaning and organizing. Watch for those in future months.

Here is the menu for this week:

10th beef-steak, roast mini red potatoes, and green beans (dessert is apple crisp-our family favorite!)

11th pizza-homemade pizza, salad or crudite for the kids

12th soup-corn chowder and salad, breadsticks for the kids

13th chicken-orzo and chicken, salad

14th sammy nite-meatball subs, salad or crudite

15th out- Ainsley's 10th bday!!

Ainsley has requested the Cheesecake Factory as her family birthday dinner because she has heard how wonderful it is supposed to be. Neil and I do not eat there often, and I definitely am one of those people that think this is not a little kid restaurant. But it will be a big treat for her, and Syd is happy to go along. There is a quaint, but over-priced cupcake shop here in Needham. A few months ago, I bought a Groupon for 6 cupcakes. My plan is to take Ainsley to Treat after school on Friday to pick out 6 cupcakes for her "birthday cake" after dinner Friday night. (With so many birthdays in such a short time, we get tired of the same bday cake all the time.)

16th Turkey Ainsley's bday party: hot dogs, chips, and fruit (Turkey is not part of my normal meal menu pattern, but I happen to buy turkey hot dogs.)

We gave Ainsley the choice of a big bday party and a small gift or a small party and a bigger gift. Go figure on what she decided: 8 friends at our house for dinner, dessert and a movie. I managed to convince Ainsley that she would get more gifts if we did not take her 8 closest friends to Chili's for dinner, as she had previously requested. She has agreed to grilled hot dogs, potato chips, and fruit. For the ice cream sundae bar, we will use small bowls, one ice cream scoop, either a cookie or a small brownie, some magic shell, and two tablespoons of toppings. Then for the movie, we will have packed in advance some popcorn, candy, and chocolate covered pretzels in small containers for them to choose from.