Whew, what a day...Now what's for dinner?!?!?

I'm tired, I'm under the weather, and I'm buried under piles of editing for work.... and then there are the three kiddos, the not so clean house, the never ending laundry sitch... Whew, these sure are the days.

So what do you do to keep it all running smoothly?  Do you have a weekly system... things you try to accomplish each day... a pact with your spouse to pretend that these days never existed and to pretend when the kids get older that everything was perfect when they were babies????

B is going through a stage where he just wont sleep longer than about an hour- 1.25 hours.  Think he is outgrowing naps (please say NO!!!)?  I don't get him right away, but he usually doesn't fall back asleep.

That is just the ever changing game, right... just when you think you have them all figured out, they switch it up on you.

At least I can keep the family fed:  Here's two staples I'll share  - and yes, even the boys GOBBLE these down.
First:
Winter's Chili:
In crock pot- Set on low 8 hrs or high 4-5 hours
1 large can Dark red beans (you can use any bean or two regular cans of two different kinds)
1 can chili ready tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies
1.5 cup frozen corn
1 cup pepper strips (either fresh or frozen)
1 tsp salt
2 chicken boneless skinless breasts

*trow it all in, set it and forget it.  Shred the chicken and mix in prior to eating.  Eat with corn chips or cornbread and watch it disappear.... nom nom nom


And often there are left overs, thus the birth of....

Taco Pasta:
Add 2-3 cups left over chili (whatever you have)
1 can diced tomatoes (use chili read or diced tomatoes with green chilies for an extra kick)
1/2 pkg of cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheese (either sharp cheddar or a Mexican blend)
little bit of salt to taste
-Combine above ingredients in a large pan on medium on the stove top (I add the cheeses last, once everything else is heated through)
add 1 Box rottini noodles - cooked
Stir and serve!

Quick, easy, and a kid favorite!  We have lots of chili remixes in our house.

What are some of your easy go to dinners for busy days?

And because I can't have a post without pictures - here is what baby girl wore apple picking.  I did not make any of this, it is just the perfect modge podge of randomness that I absolutely LOVE.  My modern day Little Red - her dada did not let her wander from the path though ;o)