Yeah! I'm "back" ! It was amazing how quickly a "sometimes not working power cord" became an "absolutely not working power cord" BUT my new cord arrived Thursday, I plugged in and, BAM, my computer was back into working order!
We had a little craziness and boy, did I fry a lot this week too! On Monday, I had to take Nate to the ER due to neck stiffness and swelling and a fever which are signs of something not so good so the doctor was a little concerned BUT instead he just continues to have the Strep virus that was attacking his Lymph nodes. So, after that visit we ran through the drive through since it was almost 7:00 and we were starving! As far as frying, I figured if I was going to pour a whole bottle of oil into a pan I was going to use it alot - we had (mediocre) Southwestern egg rolls, (Fantastic) Chinese Pork Egg Rolls, and (not so good) hush puppies that were supposed to taste like the ones from Long John Silvers but tasted like . . .nothing. The oil is gone now and I don't plan to fry anything for awhile :-)
Oh I also took three kids to the grocery store on Monday morning. Wow. I was tired HA! It was nice to not go at night but, wow, three kids and a full cart is a lot of work!
This weeks plan is as follows:
Saturday - Normally, if Darryl works on Saturday (which he is) I like him to bring home dinner BUT we are going to go out tomorrow so I need to cook! So I'm going to try something called Salsberry Steak Meatballs along with Egg Noodles, Veggies and Biscuits.
Sunday - Today we are attending a church where the group Darryl has played in for years is playing; he had to take a sabbatical for the past year but is going to start going back. We thought it was be fun to go hear the group and see all of our friends! After church, we'll head out to dinner.
Monday - Breakfast Pizza, Roasted Veggies, and Cherry Fluff Stuff (Waffles for the boys because that is what they love)
Tuesday - I have a Missions Meeting tonight so we'll be passing ships . . .on a night like this, Hot Dogs and Fries are the best option.
Wednesday -Waffles, Sausage and . . I might have a BLT. :-)
Thursday - Ham, Potoates and Beans in the crockpot, Rolls
Friday - Tacos!
Friday, January 16, 2015
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Teaching Tuesdays - An extra week of Break
This is what our week looked like:
1) I planned, originally, to start school this week. I wasn't really feeling it. Then, it was set up for the contractor to install some cabinet doors on Monday. The boys did learn - they asked the guys tons of questions about what they were doing and watched the cabinet doors get installed.
2) I considered starting school on Tuesday but we didn't. We DID focus on health though. My boys took a shower. For real. Uuuggg. Due to illness and water problems (at one point over the last week we had zero cold water . ... and then zero hot water!) their bath scheduled got messed up. So, I finally made them take showers on Tuesday with lots of soap and shampoo to get super clean. Good thing - since between AWANA and lack of that hot water, it would be a few days before that could happen again.
3) I knew we wouldn't do school today. I babysat for a friend as she had a funeral to attend. With an extra person here, school wasn't happening.
5) By Thursday, I know that THIS was our break week. The boys played and played. I got some things done and enjoyed doing not much of anything.
Now, we are ready to start school full force on Monday and push through so we can be done as early as possible in the spring. Sure, I love teaching my kids and they love school but, when that weather turns nice, they will want to be outside all of the time and I will want them outside too!
1) I planned, originally, to start school this week. I wasn't really feeling it. Then, it was set up for the contractor to install some cabinet doors on Monday. The boys did learn - they asked the guys tons of questions about what they were doing and watched the cabinet doors get installed.
2) I considered starting school on Tuesday but we didn't. We DID focus on health though. My boys took a shower. For real. Uuuggg. Due to illness and water problems (at one point over the last week we had zero cold water . ... and then zero hot water!) their bath scheduled got messed up. So, I finally made them take showers on Tuesday with lots of soap and shampoo to get super clean. Good thing - since between AWANA and lack of that hot water, it would be a few days before that could happen again.
3) I knew we wouldn't do school today. I babysat for a friend as she had a funeral to attend. With an extra person here, school wasn't happening.
5) By Thursday, I know that THIS was our break week. The boys played and played. I got some things done and enjoyed doing not much of anything.
Now, we are ready to start school full force on Monday and push through so we can be done as early as possible in the spring. Sure, I love teaching my kids and they love school but, when that weather turns nice, they will want to be outside all of the time and I will want them outside too!
Monday, January 12, 2015
Make It Monday - New Pinterest "Plan"
First up, I'm fighting a losing battle with my power cord for my computer and will be ordering a new one this week but, if I "disappear" in blog land for a few days it is simply because both my power cord and my battery are dead :-) Crazy!
Second, I love pinterest as much as the next person but it is so easy to "pin, pin, pin" and never accomplish anything - even great ideas so what is my new plan? Some specific boards.
1) Each Month, I create a secret board where I pin all kinds of ideas that pertain to that month (especially for school) and I go through my other boards and pin ideas I'd like to accomplish that month. Why is it secret? Well, because that way I was blowing up other peoples boards but, really, I highly dislike the secret board because it is hard to use :-) So, I'll probably start making them unsecret HA!
2) Each week, I go through that board and pin the things I really want to get done, really want to research, or really want to start :-)
For example, I pinned a variety of things to my "This Week" board last last week. Over the weekend I actually went through and read each item to determine whether or not I really wanted to do it or if it wasn't really a good fit. I actually deleted a good 4-5 ideas. I had pinned several Bible Study ideas I thought looked good but as I investigated them, I discovered they were all pinned from Morman's and followed their teachings/set-up and, considering the fact that I'm not Morman, they really didn't fit. Finally, I printed off everything I needed to accomplish each of the tasks left. I'm kind of excited to accomplish the tasks I have on plan this week.
Hopefully next week I'll actually start having ideas to post on Mondays :-)
Second, I love pinterest as much as the next person but it is so easy to "pin, pin, pin" and never accomplish anything - even great ideas so what is my new plan? Some specific boards.
1) Each Month, I create a secret board where I pin all kinds of ideas that pertain to that month (especially for school) and I go through my other boards and pin ideas I'd like to accomplish that month. Why is it secret? Well, because that way I was blowing up other peoples boards but, really, I highly dislike the secret board because it is hard to use :-) So, I'll probably start making them unsecret HA!
2) Each week, I go through that board and pin the things I really want to get done, really want to research, or really want to start :-)
For example, I pinned a variety of things to my "This Week" board last last week. Over the weekend I actually went through and read each item to determine whether or not I really wanted to do it or if it wasn't really a good fit. I actually deleted a good 4-5 ideas. I had pinned several Bible Study ideas I thought looked good but as I investigated them, I discovered they were all pinned from Morman's and followed their teachings/set-up and, considering the fact that I'm not Morman, they really didn't fit. Finally, I printed off everything I needed to accomplish each of the tasks left. I'm kind of excited to accomplish the tasks I have on plan this week.
Hopefully next week I'll actually start having ideas to post on Mondays :-)
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Family Fun - Nate's Birthday
We celebrated Nate's birthday over a course of quite a few days for multiple reasons, the greatest one being illness, of course. I felt so bad for my little 5 year old as he didn't even want his birthday. His words were, "Mom, I still feel four. I'm too sick to turn five.". We still managed to have a little fun though, and of course, he got his gifts so that made him happy!
Our very first celebration was at Darryl's family Christmas party. Since we were all getting together to celebrate Christmas, we would celebrate Nate's birthday too!
I made super simple cupcakes (right from the box). Some with sprinkles, some without and some without frosting to please all of my boys!
Nate hid in the back room while we sang but then . ...
Raced out to blow out the candles ;-)
Our second celebration was on his birthday.
Despite having been up during the night puking, he was ready to open some presents during the day.
Opening his first present - a book about bugs.
He also got some Legos, a John Deere Truck and something else I can't seem to remember at the moment.
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But, despite opening gifts, this is how my little bug spent most of his birthday. Asleep, in a chair. No cake or special dinner . . as a matter of fact from this day on, he ate very little for the entire week.
We were supposed to meet my parents for dinner on Nate's birthday but that did not happen. Instead, we planned to celebrate on Christmas Eve. When we got to my parents house, Nate was super sick with a fever of over 103. I thought we would be spending the evening in the ER but we were able to get his fever down and guess what he wanted to do? Open presents!
He got a whole bag of Legos he had asked for - the Arctic set. It was cute because he noticed that one big piece was missing and he hoped that Santa would bring it for Christmas (don't worry, Santa . .aka Nana . . .had it all taken care of!)
Finally, on Christmas Day, Nate finally wanted his cake. Our tradition is to let the boys to go the grocery store and pick out a cake. The reason we do this is simply because when they grocery shop with me, they always look at the cakes and want one. Therefore, I tell them they get to pick one for their birthday and that thrills them to no end!
Nate's cake and his candle assortment. Nate found the number once candle and the regular candle in the drawer at home a few weeks ago. He took them, put them on his bed stand and wanted for his birthday to arrive. I picked up a number 5 which he added to the mix :-)
The funniest thing ever. Nate passed out the cupcakes - all of which had blue frosting COVERING them except for Papa's. He gave Papa a nice white frosted cupcake. (So not fair!) Notice Josh's blue lips? Well, my mom, Darryl, Josh and yes, even me, had blue lips, tongues and teeth and we laugh, and laughed and laughed about it. I had tears running down my face we were laughing so hard. Just a little piece of fun in the midst of some very sick people!
Our very first celebration was at Darryl's family Christmas party. Since we were all getting together to celebrate Christmas, we would celebrate Nate's birthday too!
Our second celebration was on his birthday.
We were supposed to meet my parents for dinner on Nate's birthday but that did not happen. Instead, we planned to celebrate on Christmas Eve. When we got to my parents house, Nate was super sick with a fever of over 103. I thought we would be spending the evening in the ER but we were able to get his fever down and guess what he wanted to do? Open presents!
Finally, on Christmas Day, Nate finally wanted his cake. Our tradition is to let the boys to go the grocery store and pick out a cake. The reason we do this is simply because when they grocery shop with me, they always look at the cakes and want one. Therefore, I tell them they get to pick one for their birthday and that thrills them to no end!
Friday, January 9, 2015
Weekly Menu
I have no great insight or stories this week. We pretty much ate what was planned last week except on Sunday we had Lasagna and Chicken Noodle Soup left so instead of cooking another big meal, we just ate that (and the boys ate Hot Dogs - which they love.)
Here's what is on the plan for the coming week:
Saturday -Originally I was supposed to go Scrapbooking but it got cancelled due to weather! At the writing of this, Darryl may work now on Saturday (it kinda depends on if he takes Friday off because of the impending snow storm) so the plan is Pizza. Not sure from where - Jets, Little Ceasers, or Pizza Hut depending on whether he works and what we really want!
Sunday -Darryl will be working today. The boys and I will grab lunch after church and then I plan on cooking up some Chicken Enchiladas to have for dinner. This was on the plan for last week but didn't for various reasons.
Monday - Amish Chicken, Buttered Noodles, Cherry Fluff Stuff, and Rolls
Tuesday - Onion Scallion Beef, Fried Rice and Egg Rolls.
Wednesday - Ham and Cheese Breakfast Pies, Tater Tots (because my kids love them more than anything else) and Fruit. I may or may not toast a waffle for each of the boys if they won't eat the pie.
Thursday - Broccoli Soup and Rolls.
Friday - Tacos :-)
Here's what is on the plan for the coming week:
Saturday -Originally I was supposed to go Scrapbooking but it got cancelled due to weather! At the writing of this, Darryl may work now on Saturday (it kinda depends on if he takes Friday off because of the impending snow storm) so the plan is Pizza. Not sure from where - Jets, Little Ceasers, or Pizza Hut depending on whether he works and what we really want!
Sunday -Darryl will be working today. The boys and I will grab lunch after church and then I plan on cooking up some Chicken Enchiladas to have for dinner. This was on the plan for last week but didn't for various reasons.
Monday - Amish Chicken, Buttered Noodles, Cherry Fluff Stuff, and Rolls
Tuesday - Onion Scallion Beef, Fried Rice and Egg Rolls.
Wednesday - Ham and Cheese Breakfast Pies, Tater Tots (because my kids love them more than anything else) and Fruit. I may or may not toast a waffle for each of the boys if they won't eat the pie.
Thursday - Broccoli Soup and Rolls.
Friday - Tacos :-)
Thursday, January 8, 2015
January 2015 Goals
It's time to start kicking out the 2015 goals - January starts off another new year and another set of goals to accomplish. I love having a theme word that helps me focus a little more on accomplishing things in our home, family and personal life. I really see the need to eliminate things to make daily living easier and less stressful.
Home Goals
I'm going to break our home up into some simple areas to deep clean/declutter on a monthly basis. This first round will be the hardest since I'm be going through the rooms the first time. In the future, the deep cleaning should get easier since I will hit each room once ever three months.
1) The basement - This is its own animal. It grows, moves, and seems to morph into a huge mess quickly. I'm dividing it into three sections and will conquer one each month so, again, every three months I'll get back to each section. For January - the first goal is the playroom side. Here's my short list: a) Clean up the toys that are done there and put them in the right place (Many belong upstairs) b) Take down the Train table we have - it's too big and doesn't get used now. I will get it back to my brother/sister-in-law for them to do what they please with it since it is theirs. c) Go through the two bookshelves and clean them out/off. I have lots of teaching/craft supplies that I need to go through again as well as a whole shelf of books that need to be cleaned out. d) Clean, clean, clean - the floor, the walls, the windowsill, the window . .. everything. e) Find a new floor solution and price it out/set up savings. I know what I want - just the simple foam tiles that go together like a puzzle. they are easy to clean yet soft for the kids to play on. f) get rid of good will piles that have been in the room for a year! g) set up play areas for the kids to use - specifically with some toys that they have upstairs and could use a new home.
2) The Kitchen and Dining Room - This month these two rooms will be cleaned from top to bottom. Here's the short list of what needs to be done The Kitchen : a) organize the cupboards b) clean the floor c) clean the baseboards d) clean the window (hopefully inside and out depending on the weather) e) Clean the fridge from the inside out, from top to bottom f) Clean the stove - try to figure out inside the glass g) Change out the wall decor by the stairs f) clean the patio window and the stairs to the basement g) Make my list of "wants", price things out and make a savings plan to do those items. The Dining Room - a)do touchups on the walls and baseboards b)get new valances for the windows c) clean the windows and blinds d) clean the fan/fixtures e) clean the baseboards and outlet covers f) dust, dust, dust and clean the floor
School
1. 2015-2016 Curriculum - Make a basic list of what I'm considering for this fall for Josh and what is needed for Nate.
2) Paper Organization - Totally clean out the bottom drawer of my cabinet and make file folders for each of the boys.
3) Plan out January projects - need 4 to do on Fridays and then 4 extra to do with the boys. Plus some supplemental papers
Daily Routines
My goal this month is to create these. To write them down, live them for a month, change them and set them in soft stone (because things always change).
Family
1. Set up a quick savings envelope to save money for Children's Museum Membership
2) take the boys to see the Pirate Exhibit at the Museum.
3) Specifically Play a game with the boys twice this month as a family - the boys have some new games that we need to play so that they can learn the rules.
4) We love vacation time - my goal this month is to make some tentative plans for camping, a family vacation and hopefully a small "vacation" for Darryl and I at some point.
5) Write down Serial #'s from electronics - this is such a simple task but so important!
Holidays
1. Christmas - Yes, Christmas just ended so I need to take some specific time to make notes, reminders and ideas for next year. I like to do it while the successes and failures from the current year are fresh.
2) Plan Ideas for Valentines and St Patrick's Day
3) Birthdays - Plan Darryl's Birthday; Start focusing on the birthday board now. I would like to find a simple "Birthday Shirt" for Darryl to wear - something to wear every year :-) Also, the birthday board - start building the actual board and decide what Day "one" will be and accomplish all tasks for day 1
Personal
1. Quiet Time/Prayer Time - Work on having that daily quiet time and learning some memory verses. I have my reading plans printed out and my verses printed out as well. Secondly, I struggle with the concept of prayer. I understand it, I totally 'get it' and even understand really, why we pray, but I still struggle with the fact that God already knows every detail so why pray? I've challenged myself to pray this year - pray for my family, my brothers, my parents and the rest of the crazy bunch of people; pray for our finances and our plans; pray for my kids salvation - just plain pray.
2) Finances - Prep, plan and work the January budget; Prepare and File our 2014 taxes; Set up a savings plan for specific areas like Birthdays, Christmas, Clothes, ect.; Reserve two camping weekends (May, June)
3) Music - I'm on the piano schedule again at church so I need to start practicing ;-) My goal this month is to have two offetory songs prepped and ready to go. Also, it appears I'm scheduled to play on Easter so I need to find something to play that day as well. I'm scheduled to sing soon too so I need to pick my song and practice.
4) Scrapbooking - a) Completely finish 2013 - I have a few pages left to finish up and put the books together. I will still need to put page protectors on the whole thing but I can do that a pack at a time. b) Complete Jan-March 2014. c) Create my blog book for 2010 - the first year I blogged. Once it is created and I have the cost, I'll set up a savings plan to order it. I don't plan to do the next book until this one is ordered. d) Put together the small books - Christmas Ornament book for each boy - needs to be current; Birthday Question book - needs to be current and they Page a Month Book - would like their first year done and in albums.
5) Misc - I have a few other things on my goal list that are, well, my own goals. Things I don't really want to talk about until they are accomplished which might mean they don't get talked about until December :-)
Home Goals
I'm going to break our home up into some simple areas to deep clean/declutter on a monthly basis. This first round will be the hardest since I'm be going through the rooms the first time. In the future, the deep cleaning should get easier since I will hit each room once ever three months.
1) The basement - This is its own animal. It grows, moves, and seems to morph into a huge mess quickly. I'm dividing it into three sections and will conquer one each month so, again, every three months I'll get back to each section. For January - the first goal is the playroom side. Here's my short list: a) Clean up the toys that are done there and put them in the right place (Many belong upstairs) b) Take down the Train table we have - it's too big and doesn't get used now. I will get it back to my brother/sister-in-law for them to do what they please with it since it is theirs. c) Go through the two bookshelves and clean them out/off. I have lots of teaching/craft supplies that I need to go through again as well as a whole shelf of books that need to be cleaned out. d) Clean, clean, clean - the floor, the walls, the windowsill, the window . .. everything. e) Find a new floor solution and price it out/set up savings. I know what I want - just the simple foam tiles that go together like a puzzle. they are easy to clean yet soft for the kids to play on. f) get rid of good will piles that have been in the room for a year! g) set up play areas for the kids to use - specifically with some toys that they have upstairs and could use a new home.
2) The Kitchen and Dining Room - This month these two rooms will be cleaned from top to bottom. Here's the short list of what needs to be done The Kitchen : a) organize the cupboards b) clean the floor c) clean the baseboards d) clean the window (hopefully inside and out depending on the weather) e) Clean the fridge from the inside out, from top to bottom f) Clean the stove - try to figure out inside the glass g) Change out the wall decor by the stairs f) clean the patio window and the stairs to the basement g) Make my list of "wants", price things out and make a savings plan to do those items. The Dining Room - a)do touchups on the walls and baseboards b)get new valances for the windows c) clean the windows and blinds d) clean the fan/fixtures e) clean the baseboards and outlet covers f) dust, dust, dust and clean the floor
School
1. 2015-2016 Curriculum - Make a basic list of what I'm considering for this fall for Josh and what is needed for Nate.
2) Paper Organization - Totally clean out the bottom drawer of my cabinet and make file folders for each of the boys.
3) Plan out January projects - need 4 to do on Fridays and then 4 extra to do with the boys. Plus some supplemental papers
Daily Routines
My goal this month is to create these. To write them down, live them for a month, change them and set them in soft stone (because things always change).
Family
1. Set up a quick savings envelope to save money for Children's Museum Membership
2) take the boys to see the Pirate Exhibit at the Museum.
3) Specifically Play a game with the boys twice this month as a family - the boys have some new games that we need to play so that they can learn the rules.
4) We love vacation time - my goal this month is to make some tentative plans for camping, a family vacation and hopefully a small "vacation" for Darryl and I at some point.
5) Write down Serial #'s from electronics - this is such a simple task but so important!
Holidays
1. Christmas - Yes, Christmas just ended so I need to take some specific time to make notes, reminders and ideas for next year. I like to do it while the successes and failures from the current year are fresh.
2) Plan Ideas for Valentines and St Patrick's Day
3) Birthdays - Plan Darryl's Birthday; Start focusing on the birthday board now. I would like to find a simple "Birthday Shirt" for Darryl to wear - something to wear every year :-) Also, the birthday board - start building the actual board and decide what Day "one" will be and accomplish all tasks for day 1
Personal
1. Quiet Time/Prayer Time - Work on having that daily quiet time and learning some memory verses. I have my reading plans printed out and my verses printed out as well. Secondly, I struggle with the concept of prayer. I understand it, I totally 'get it' and even understand really, why we pray, but I still struggle with the fact that God already knows every detail so why pray? I've challenged myself to pray this year - pray for my family, my brothers, my parents and the rest of the crazy bunch of people; pray for our finances and our plans; pray for my kids salvation - just plain pray.
2) Finances - Prep, plan and work the January budget; Prepare and File our 2014 taxes; Set up a savings plan for specific areas like Birthdays, Christmas, Clothes, ect.; Reserve two camping weekends (May, June)
3) Music - I'm on the piano schedule again at church so I need to start practicing ;-) My goal this month is to have two offetory songs prepped and ready to go. Also, it appears I'm scheduled to play on Easter so I need to find something to play that day as well. I'm scheduled to sing soon too so I need to pick my song and practice.
4) Scrapbooking - a) Completely finish 2013 - I have a few pages left to finish up and put the books together. I will still need to put page protectors on the whole thing but I can do that a pack at a time. b) Complete Jan-March 2014. c) Create my blog book for 2010 - the first year I blogged. Once it is created and I have the cost, I'll set up a savings plan to order it. I don't plan to do the next book until this one is ordered. d) Put together the small books - Christmas Ornament book for each boy - needs to be current; Birthday Question book - needs to be current and they Page a Month Book - would like their first year done and in albums.
5) Misc - I have a few other things on my goal list that are, well, my own goals. Things I don't really want to talk about until they are accomplished which might mean they don't get talked about until December :-)
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
What We are Eating - Peppermint Bark Cheesecake Dip
Peppermint Bark Cheesecake Dip
adapted from A Pumpkin and a Princess
It's that time of year - the time of lots of new appetizers! This is a dip that I made for New Years Eve and it is fantastic. It's soft and creamy and has just the right amount of mind and chocolate included. I could eat it with a spoon but I did actually use 'Nilla Wafers to dip with instead :-)
Ingredients
adapted from A Pumpkin and a Princess
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup marshmallow fluff
- ½ cup cool whip
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup Andes peppermint baking chips
- ½ cup miniature chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a stand mixer beat cream cheese until light and fluffy.
- Add in marshmallow fluff and cool whip.
- Slowly add powdered sugar until well combined.
- Fold in Andes and chocolate chips.
- Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
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