Five on Friday & SUYL

Is it wrong that I'm throwing my own personal "linking up to everyone else's link parties" party today?  Is there blog etiquette for this? I do not know, but I just love the Friday 5 and Kelly's Show Us Your Life, so here are things I'm thinking about today.

-One-
The Joys of Cooking (or not)
I try to do most of the prep for our dinner while James naps, because
it's very hard to cook with a little one holding onto my leg saying,
"Mama, MaMaaa, MAMA," a few thousand times.  No kitchen triangle can
contend with a toddler who wants the chiefs attention!  Cooking dinner
causes me stress.  I've learned to make all our breakfast and lunch's
for the week on Sunday night so it's simple, healthy and there's hardly
any mess to clean up earlier in the day.  I could use that at the end of
my day, too. Enter Freezer meals.I'm seriously considering a doing a month of freezer meals one of these days.  I've heard great things about Once a Month Mom.  I made a bunch while pregnant and was so very glad that I did.  Our favorite were Skinny Taste Asian Turkey Meatballs and still are a favorite now enjoyed by James as well!  I even have a Pinterest Board dedicated to Freezer Meals. One of these days I'm going to devote a weekend to cooking, so I don't have to for the rest of the month -doesn't that sound amazing?

-Two-
Speaking of cooking, I checked out Jessica Seinfeld's, Deceptively Delicious, from the library this week.I never thought I'd be one to check out cookbooks from the library, but our story-time circuit makes it pretty convenient, especially if I put it on hold before we go - that probably makes me an official, yet efficient, nerd!

Thanks to baby led weaning James really eats just about everything, and I just get so tickled to see him chow down on asparagus spears, broccoli and spinach.  I do love the idea of sneaking in even more nutrients from fruits and veggies, but making puree's to put into recipes is a whole extra step that I don't know if I want to add to my meal prep drama-ha!

-Three-
In a welcomed break from all the national news my home state is causing, this lady who wants to just wear a mermaid tail at her community pool, is quite the scandal here in Tampa Bay. She can come swim at our house anytime!

-Four-
 James is keeping me on my toes these days!  He just gets into everything, and oh boy he is fun and adventurous!  He loves to walk Molly, and now likes to make everything he finds into a leash...for himself.  I'm not a fan of unwrapping electrical wires from his neck multiple times a day, not sure if this is an "ignore and go away phase" or something where I need to start honing my none existent disciplining skills.  He seriously wrapped a computer wire around his neck while I pulled this up to publish!  So I guess I'll be checking out discipline books from the library this week instead of cookbooks, any recommendations?

-Five-

My brother is deploying soon to "an undisclosed location in the middle east."  I'm so grateful for his service and pray for his quick and safe return.