Menu Planning Monday

It's that time of the week again.....it's a chicken week! Not on purpose just after planning and doing my menu for the grocery store I realized we were having lots of chicken! When you are eating healthy that just happens plus we really aren't a big red meat family anyway! View many more menus on this GREAT website

Monday - tuna fish however you want it! I had some left over boiled eggs so my hubby suggested this! I usually set out tortillas, pitas, crackers, bread, and lettuce so each family member can have it however they want!

Tuesday - Breakfast eggs, turkey bacon, drop biscuits Tuesday is Parker's Crossfire class so I always either do a crockpot meal or quick meal and this is a family fav!!

Wednesday - Grilled Chicken Salads yes it's time to start grilling again! For the kids (since they don't like lettuce) I take cupcake pans and put a little of each thing for them..chicken in one, egg, bacon, cheese, etc....

Thursday - Spaghetti I use sausage and whole wheat penne noodles (so far the family hasn't noticed the difference) and I usually take some multigrain tortillas and make garlic triangles

Friday - Chicken Tacos I set up a "taco bar" with hard and soft taco shells and all the fixins I got a pineapple to have with it

Saturday - English Muffin Pizzas super quick and easy and great for the kids to help!
I use the whole wheat English muffins

Sunday - it's our week to go to the inlaws

I did AWESOME at the grocery store this week I have a $50 a week budget for groceries and I spent $26.34 at Aldi this week I was SOOOOO excited!!

Tattoo

I got my tattoo finally this week. I have been wanting to get another one for years and my hubby was getting more work done on his full sleeve so we made appointments together.
I knew I wanted a cross but was having trouble deciding where and exactly what I wanted the cross to look like! I wanted a cross b/c I am a Christian and it's a great way to give testimony when people ask me about it! I decided on the back of my neck so that way I could show it when I wanted to (ponytail) and hide it if I needed to (hair down) Here it is


I found several drawings online that I liked but nothing just right. So I took all my drawings to Vanessa at Underground Art (she's wonderful by the way) and she was going to draw up something for me!
Last Tuesday I went in hoping I would like the drawing...I am not a confrontational person but in the case of having something on my body the rest of my life I would have spoken up if I didn't like it! Luckily that wasn't the case it was just what I wanted! I did have her extend the bottom of the cross since she made it more symmetrical and I wanted people to see it and KNOW it was a cross!

Also I wanted to give my personal perspective on Tattoos! I am a Christian and I do believe the whole "my body is a temple" thing but my tattoo is art and a great conversation starter to tell people I am a Christian. I know tattoos are forever and this is why I would never get some "trend of the moment" tattooed on me but I have and will have my faith the rest of my life so a Cross was perfect for me! I also think over the last 10ish years or so tattoos aren't as taboo as they once were they aren't just for criminals and hooligans (not wording just quoting Jeff's grandmother) I think my tattoo is beautiful and love showing it off!

Swap Tree

I have found an awesome treasure online for us frugal moms (or anyone really) It's called SWAPTREE
Basically you list books/DVDs/CDs/video games you and your family are done with and then also do a wish list of things you want! Then swaptree calculates trades for you! You just pay the shipping to trade them. I reccommend doing the printable postage online since they charge the shipping to your account and bill your credit card once a month BUT you just print out the label, pop it on the envelope and just drop it in a mailbox PLUS it has delivery confirmation so you don't have to deal with "I never received your item" complaints!
I have actually done all my Easter shopping (besides a little candy) this year on here! Trading in my adult fiction books I am done with for Dora and Power Ranger books and DVDs! Since I am a homeschooling mom and the kids are with me when I run errands this is an EASY way to shop and basically for free!!

Menu Planning Monday

I know I have been slacking on posting my menus...I still do them every week, plan my grocery list etc...but I haven't been posting them on here! Here's to getting back on track!!

Monday - Chicken Tetrazini (I have never made this before and not sure my picky hubby will eat it but I will have the pb&j nearby to make him a quick sandwich)

Tuesday - eat on the run Parker's crossfire night and Jeff and I are taking the kids to my parent's house for him to go get more tattoo work done on his full sleeve and me getting another tattoo my parent's are feeding the kids and we will just grab whatever!

Wednesday - Pineapple Chicken (crockpot) so easy just put chicken in crockpot pour on some teriakyi sauce and crushed pineapple I usually serve with brown rice (making double for Sat night)

Thursday - Chicken Fajitas Mexican corn and refried beans This is the healthy version using multigrain tortillas and fat free beans also lots of salsa instead of cheese/sour cream

Friday - Spaghetti with sausage yes we wind up having his 2-3 times a month but everyone loves spaghetti though I mix it up with different noodles...penne, rigatoni, bowtie etc...we are having the whole wheat penne this week

Saturday - Chicken Fried Rice using some leftover rice from Wed I will whip this yummy meal up in the wok

Sunday - Soup and Sandwich night get each kid some Campbell's character soup (Target had them on sale last week) and Jeff and I get the Healthy Harvest kind and I usually make Grilled cheeses but everyone gets whatever sandwich they want!



Visit here for TONS more menus

slacking

I have been slacking on this blog! I try but it's just been crazy around this house!! I have been in spring cleaning mode! I took the kids to my parent's house last Wednesday and totally decluttered Parker's room! For a small 10 x 10 room it had WAY too much stuff in it! I ended up getting two boxes full to sell on ebay, two to give to goodwill and then 3 big bags of trash!! Now that he is 7 we wanted to give him a more grown up room....I painted the Justice League gang on his walls back when he was 4 and obsessed with them...he has since moved on to Power Rangers, Bakugan and video games. So we went with a darker red (matched to his Bakugan ball hilarious I know) and spent all morning painting! I decluttered big time he's just left with his bed, dresser, and small shelf to hold his video game systems, games, and DVDs everything else is put away in the closet or GONE!!
I love organizing and LOVE my label maker...I feel so good when I get tons of stuff done! I have also worked hard on the rest of the house this week! Since we just have a two bedroom house and Lyndee's bed/dresser are in our room her toys have taken over the den! I went through cleaning out baby toys and got her an organizer with buckets to get toys off the floor! Right now the house is still in "limbo" a huge mess until we can get to goodwill and the dump! It's a great start and I plan on keeping it up!!

It's Monday again

It's Monday again so he's this week's menu! Click here to read more menus

Monday - going out for my brother in laws Birthday dinner HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEAN

Tuesday -Pork Tenderloin with potatoes and carrots (crockpot night since Parker has Crossfire class)

Wednesday - breakfast night biscuits, turkey bacon, eggs Quick and Easy and both my boy's favorite meal

Thursday - Taco Pie with tortilla chips and salsa

Friday - BBQ Chicken Pizza on homemade crust

Saturday - Meatloaf Pie and green beans

Sunday - Toasted Ravioli with tomato sauce for dipping and Salads

That's all for this week I didn't realize when I planned but I have lots of quick and easy meals! Guess I get in the habit of that being so busy all the time!!

Valentine's Weekend

We had a wonderful weekend! Started out Friday night when the kids spent the night with my parents and Jeff and I got a date! It was actually 10 years ago this week we went out on our first date so we were celebrating that and Valentine's day!
We went to Huey's and a movie like we did on our first date! It was very yummy and then he took me to a "chick flick"(he loves me) We saw He's Just Not that Into You! It was very cute and I highly recommend...and the Malco gift card my parents gave us for Christmas went to GREAT use!
We picked up the kids Saturday morning and I had already hid their presents around the house. So pretty much as soon as we walked in the door they were ready! I had Parker read each clue out loud then him and Lyndee RAN to get their treats! Lyndee is still a little young for this but she followed her big brother squealing! I decided to hide a present for each of them in each place since she is his "shadow"! They each got a Valentine's book, candy (of course), coloring books, stickers, and more (most of which I got at Dollar Tree) I am not big on the commercialness of the holiday I tell Jeff and the kids I love them every day! It is fun watching them run for their prizes!
Jeff had taken the kids out one night last week and I honestly had no clue what they did I thought he had taken them to Chuck E Cheese to play or something...turns out he took them to the mall and they picked out a Hello Kitty for me at Build A Bear! I LOVE it! I wanted to get that one for Lyndee next time we got one but now I have one! They also got me another watch since mine broke like 2 weeks ago and I have been all messed up since I never take my watch off. We don't do presents but Jeff wanted to surprise me! We actually did the same for him and Parker picked out a Star Wars figure he didn't have!

Then last night I surprised my boys with Shrimp in garlic butter sauce since they both LOVE shrimp. I don't like shrimp so I don't cook it too often but when I do they are very excited.
Hope everyone had a great Valentine's day

Menu Planning Monday

Menu Planning Monday! I have been reading this on I'm an Organizing Junkie for awhile now and decided to finally get with it and post my menus! I have been menu planning for years and figured it was time to share!

Monday - beef enchiladas with re fried beans and Spanish rice
Tuesday - Chicken Parmesan with broccoli
Wednesday - A-1 Chili with cornbread in the crock pot (I usually do a crockpot meal at least once a week!) I will probably do soup for the kids since they think chili is too spicy
Thursday - Fish Tacos (so easy just bake fish sticks put in tortillas with lettuce, tartar sauce/salsa) with spring salad
Friday - Date with hubby for Valentine's day! My parents are free to keep the kids (they are going on their own date Sat night) plus Valentine's day is one of the busiest restaurant days
Saturday - Garlic Shrimp over pasta with butter sauce (no we don't normally eat like this but both my hubby and son LOVE shrimp and figured it would be a nice Valentine's day treat)
Sunday - Crescent Hot Dogs Macaroni and cheese

I hope everyone has a great week cooking!

downside of being a mom

I haven't gotten to blog the last few days like I planned but Wednesday Lyndee got a stomach virus and just as she was getting better Parker got it on Friday. I have had a total of 3 hours sleep the last 2 days and it was very interrupted sleep at that! I hate when kids are sick especially young ones like Lyndee who can't even tell you what's hurting what is wrong. I will just be so glad when this is out of my house and overwith! I feel like I am non stop cleaning up messes! I can't imagine these parents with many many kids and they all get sick I can barely handle two sick kids at once! My sweet hubby has been helping out a lot since they are overlapping. The only good part of all this is that I haven't caught it yet and so I am not sick taking care of sick kids that is soooo much worse!

Also on a happy note....My sister had a baby last night (though I can't go meet her yet since the kids are sick) I am very excited to have another niece!!

homeschooling

I thought I would post about a typical day in our world these last three weeks! We pulled our son Parker from his public school over the winter break to homeschool and so far it's been wonderful!
Here is our daily schedule though things do get switched up quite a bit and we get done faster than I planned etc....part of a homeschooling (or SAHM for that matter) is being flexible.

wake up breakfast
8:30 - 8:45 Bible
8:45- 9:30 Math
9:30 - 10 chores (I give Parker this 30 min if he gets them all done quickly he gets freetime to play with toys or whatever this has actually been GREAT no more begging to do chores)
10 - 10:30 out and about time (running errands on Tuesday we do the library etc...)
10:30 - 11:30 Spelling/Writing/Language Arts/Phonics
11:30 - 12 Lunch
12 - 12:30 Science
12:30 - 1 Independent Reading/Reading aloud
1 - 1:30 Computer time (this is the EDUCACTIONAL websites/games only time)
1:30 - 2 Social Studies

We usually fly through all that and get done before lunch! I worked in time for me to do my housework when Parker is doing his chores and then like reading/computer time he can do mostly by himself.